The atom.
If it is an element, then the smallest particle that retains the characteristics of the element is an atom. If it is a diatomic element, then the smallest particle that retains the characteristics of the element is a molecule. If it is a molecular compound, then the smallest particle that retains the characteristics of the compound is a molecule. If it is an ionic compound, the smallest particle that retains characteristics of the compound is a formula unit.
The smallest particle of an element that still retains the chemical characteristics of that element is called an atom. Each element is made up of atoms, which are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
This particle is the atom.
The smallest particle of an element that maintains the characteristics of the element is an atom. Each element is composed of unique atoms with specific properties determined by its atomic structure.
An atom
The smallest particle of any substance that maintains elemental characteristics and identity is an atom. Conversely a pure elemental sample if divided indefinitely into smaller pieces would ultimately yield the atom.
The smallest particle of an element is called an atom.
An atom is the smallest building block of matter that retains the characteristics of that matter.
A molecule is the smallest part of a compound that still retains the properties of said compound. As the atom is the smallest particle of an element into which it can be divided and still retain all the properties of that element, the molecule is the atom's analog for a compound.
An atom is the smallest building block of matter that retains the characteristics of that matter.
An atom is the smallest building block of matter that retains the characteristics of that matter.
The smallest particle that has characteristics of that element is the atom. The atom is made up of a certain amount of protons, electrons and (neutrons) and those are what give the characteristics of that element to that atom.