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Question

What is the difference between molecules and compounds?

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Solution

Definition of Molecules: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

Definition of Compound: A substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions.

A compound is a substance that is composed from two or more different elements. Water (H2O), table salt (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and chlorophyll (C55H72O5N4Mg) are a few examples of compounds. They are compounds because they each contain more than one kind of element. Things like nitrogen gas (N2) oxygen gas (O2)are not compounds since they only contains one kind of element.

Nitrogen gas (N2) is a molecule because the bond between the nitrogen atoms is a molecular bond. Water (H2O) is a molecular compound because it is a substance made from more than one kind of element that is held together with molecular bonds.

A compound is a type of molecule. A molecule is formed when two or more atoms of an element chemically join together. If the types of atoms are different from each other, a compound is formed. Not all molecules are compounds, since some molecules, such as hydrogen gas or ozone, consist only of one element or type of atom.


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