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atom or element
A compound: any formula that contains more than one kind of atomic symbols represents a compound.
If the substance is an element, the smallest will be an atom. If it is a compound, then that would be a molecule.
A molecule is the smallest particle of a "compound" being that compounds are made up of more than one atom. The smallest particle of any "chemical element" that retains its properties would be the atom.
The smallest part of any chemical element that can exist is an atom of that element. The smallest part of a chemical compound that can exist is a molecule of that compound.
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.
An element is a part of a compound.
An element.
atom or element
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It is a compound. It represents a chemical reaction, which makes it a compound.
It is a compound. It represents a chemical reaction, which makes it a compound.
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.
A compound: any formula that contains more than one kind of atomic symbols represents a compound.
A molecule is the smallest particle of a compound that still retains its properties. An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still retains its properties.
Electron Dot Diagram
If the substance is an element, the smallest will be an atom. If it is a compound, then that would be a molecule.