What are Atoms and Molecules?
Atoms and molecules form the foundation of all matter in our universe. The difference between atoms and molecules is fundamental to understanding chemistry. An atom is the smallest unit of an element that maintains its chemical properties, while a molecule forms when two or more atoms join together through chemical bonds.
Difference Between Atom and Molecule in Table Form
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FAQs on Difference Between Atoms and Molecules
1. What is the main difference between atoms and molecules?
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter representing a single element. Molecules form when two or more atoms combine through chemical bonds to create new substances with different properties.
2. Is oxygen an atom or molecule?
Oxygen can exist as both. A single oxygen (O) is an atom, while the oxygen we breathe (O₂) is a molecule consisting of two oxygen atoms bonded together.
3. How many atoms make up a molecule?
Molecules contain at least two atoms but can include thousands or millions in complex structures like proteins. Simple examples include O₂ (2 atoms), H₂O (3 atoms), and CH₄ (5 atoms).
4. Is water an atom or molecule?
Water (H₂O) is a molecule. It consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom through covalent bonds.
5. What is the difference between molecules and compounds?
All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds. Molecules can be made of the same element (like O₂), while compounds always contain different elements (like H₂O or CO₂).
6. Is salt (NaCl) a molecule?
Salt (NaCl) is technically an ionic compound, not a molecule. It consists of a lattice of sodium and chloride ions held together by ionic bonds rather than covalent bonds.
7. What makes atoms bond to form molecules?
Atoms bond to achieve a stable electron configuration (usually 8 electrons in their outer shell). This occurs through sharing electrons (covalent bonds), transferring electrons (ionic bonds), or pooling electrons (metallic bonds).
8. Are elements the same as atoms?
An element is a pure substance consisting of only one type of atom. For example, the element oxygen consists only of oxygen atoms, though these atoms may combine to form oxygen molecules (O₂).
9. Is chalk a compound?
Yes, chalk (CaCO₃) is a compound made up of calcium, carbon, and oxygen atoms.
10. Is every atom a molecule?
No, atoms exist alone or in molecules. Only bonded atoms form molecules.
