What are molecules, please help me clever people!!!?

Question

What is meant by 'molequles'. What are they I need some background information ect. also I need examples: some examples that are elemements and some that are compounds. Please don't give sarcastic answers because, it's for a big test and I need the answers for tomorrow!!!

Answer 1

In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of two or more atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical bonds [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Chemical substances are not infinitely divisible into smaller fractions of the same substance: a molecule is generally considered the smallest particle of a pure substance that still retains its composition and chemical properties.[6] Certain pure substances (e.g., metals, molten salts, crystals, etc.) are best understood as being composed of networks or aggregates of atoms or ions instead of molecular units.

In the molecular sciences, a molecule is a sufficiently stable, electrically neutral entity composed of two or more atoms.[7] The concept of a single-atom or monatomic molecule, as found in noble gases, is used almost exclusively in the kinetic theory of gases, where the fundamental gas particles are conventionally termed "molecules" regardless of their composition. [8]The science of molecules is called molecular chemistry or molecular physics, depending on the focus. Molecular chemistry deals with the laws governing the interaction between molecules that results in the formation and breakage of chemical bonds, while molecular physics deals with the laws governing their structure and properties. In practice, however, this distinction is vague. In molecular sciences, a molecule consists of a stable system (bound state) comprising two or more atoms. Polyatomic ions may sometimes be usefully thought of as electrically-charged molecules. The term unstable molecule is used for very reactive species, i.e., short-lived assemblies (resonances) of electrons and nuclei, such as radicals, molecular ions, Rydberg molecules, transition states, Van der Waals complexes, or systems of colliding atoms as in Bose-Einstein condensates.

A peculiar use of the term molecular is as a synonym to covalent, which arises from the fact that, unlike molecular covalent compounds, ionic compounds do not yield well-defined smallest particles that would be consistent with the definition above. However, the same problem also arises for some (but not all) covalent compounds. No typical "smallest particle" can be defined for covalent crystals, or network solids, which are composed of repeating unit cells that extend indefinitely either in a plane (such as in graphite) or three-dimensionally (such as in diamond).

While all gases exist as molecules by definition (as the term for gas particles), not all solids and liquids do. In fact, many of the most familiar substances in ordinary experience, such as rocks, crystals, and metals, are composed of atoms or ions, but are not made of molecules.

Answer 2

Put simply, a molecule is the smallest part that you can break something down to while it still retains all the ingredients of the whole thing. A molecule is different to an elemental atom in this way. An atom is a single unit of a single substance, with a nucleus (made up of protons and neutrons) and electrons.

For example, a molecule of the gas oxygen (O) is comprised of two oxygen atoms which are bonded together - hence O2. A single atom of oxygen gas (O) is not found in a natural state. This is an example of an elemental molecule.

A compound molecule is a molecule which consists of atoms of more than one type, such as H2O (water). Here, two atoms of hydrogen AND one atom of oxygen are bonded together to make one molecule of water. If you were to break this up, you would no longer have water, but some hydrogen and some oxygen.

Think of it like baking - you have atoms (basic ingredients) and you can have a tiny crumb of the cake at the end (molecules) - but even the tiniest crumb still contains a bit of sugar, flour egg, etc. If there was a way to take these ingredients back out of the cake, it would no longer be a crumb of cake.

Hope this helps. Stick with it, it starts to make sense after a while!!!

Answer 3

I think you may have a few terms mixed up.
Elements are the names of atomic subsatnces.
Molecules are a combination of two or more atoms.

Hydrogen is an element which exists as a molecule H2
Helium (The gas that makes you voice sound funny HeHe) is an element which exists as an atom He
Sodium Chloride (Salt) is an ionic compound NaCl
Water is a liquid with the molecular formula H2O

These a very simple examples so you should be able to remeber them.

Answer 4

Look here, first of all the spelling og it is molecules and not molequles, just joking, don't take it seriously. Now the serious stuff, look the smallest and induvidual component of a compound is a molecule, i.e molecule exhibits all the properties of the compound and its properties are independent of the constitiuents if they are made up of more than one element. Now ex: water is a molecule containing two atoms of hydrogen and one oxygen atoms and its molecular formula is H2O and there can be molecules of single atoms like a molecule of oxygen containing two molecules oxygen O2 and etc.......... Now all the best for ur big test and do well!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

A molecule simply put is a group(of two or more) atoms bonded together.E.g is the water molecule H2O.it can also involve the combination of atoms of the same element,e.g under normal conditions oxygen gas contains diatomic oxygen molecules.Also if the atoms joined are of different elements, the molecules form part of a compound. e.g being the water molecule stated earlier in which two hydrogen atoms are joined to one oxygen atom.A list of diatomic molecules thus:O2,H2,N2,CL2,BR2, tetraatomic molecule such as P4. I hope you understand that the numbers are subscripts and Goodluck with your test.

Answer 6

This is not a sarcastic answer, but honestly Answers should not be your first port of call for homework answers - you either do the research yourself and earn a decent grade or you find that you have real trouble later in life when you suddenly realise you actually know nothing at all, and don't even know how to find stuff out.

As another poster has pointed out, Wiki is a much better online resource than Answers, probably quicker and more accurate too.

Answer 7

Molecules are atoms chemically bonded together.

A chemical bond may be sharing of electrons between the atoms, or a transfer of electrons using electrostatic forces to hold the atoms together.

A molecule is the smallest individual unit of a compound.

O is an atom, an element
O2 is a molecule, of a single element.

same w/
N, N2
P, P4
Cl, Cl2

Compounds such as
NaCl- strong ionically bonded compound
CH4- covalently bonded compound
NaCN- ionic and covalently bonded compound

Read your chemistry book for more info. Or go to Wikipedia.

Answer 8

Individual atoms in a molecule are bound together chemically. It is the unit of matter that is linked by a chemical bond.

OK some examples:
A water molecule is H2O (two hydrogen atoms bound to an oxygen atom)

Oxygen is an element but it exists as O2 (two oxygens bound together) and this is called molecular oxygen. However molecular iron is Fe as one atom will exist on its own.

Hope this helps, just remember elements are the individual atoms in a molecule.

Answer 9

You have elements (about 104) like hydrogen, sodium, uranium, etc.

Each element is made up of atoms.

An atom is a tiny thing made up of further tinier particles like electron, proton, neutron, etc.

Most of the elements remain in the atomic stage. Example, Helium (He), Sodium (Na).

However, some of the elements exist as a cluster of its own atoms. Hydrogen (H2), Chlorine (Cl2)

A cluster wherein you have 2 or more atoms is called a molecule.
Example, H2, Cl2, CH4,etc.

Atom or Molecule of one element can react with atom or molecules of other elements to form a compound. Example, Copper can react with sulphur and oxygen to form copper sulphate CuSO4 which is a compound.

Answer 10

Collections of atoms which have joined to each other (using simple language here). If the molecules are the same you have a molecule of an element. Sulphur molecules are S8.
If they are different you have a molecule of a compound. SO2 is sulphur dioxide.