it can range from 2 to thousands.
A molecule is the smallest particle of a compound that contains all the properties of that compound. It can also be the smallest particle of an element if the individual atoms would be otherwise unstable on their own.
The smallest molecule is that of gaseous Hydrogen - just two hydrogen atoms joined together.
Another simple molecule is that of water - just two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom joined together.
A more complex molecule is alcohol (ethanol) - 2 carbon atoms (C), 1 oxygen atom (O) and 6 hydrogen atoms (H) all joined together in this pattern:
CH3- CH2-O-H
Some molecules, however, especially molecules of protein, have several thousand atoms in them and are far too complex to describe here.
The subscript number after a chemical symbol indicates how many atoms of that element are present in a single molecule of the compound.
Argon gas is made up of individual atoms of argon. It is a noble gas and exists as single atoms rather than as molecules.
Many organic molecules contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Iron (Fe) consists of single atoms, nitrate (NO3-) consists of molecules, and nitrogen tetrafluoride (N2F4) consists of molecules.
No, sodium is an element that exists as single atoms and not as molecules. Sodium is a monoatomic element because it consists of single atoms.
That would be subscript.
That would be subscript.
The subscript number after a chemical symbol indicates how many atoms of that element are present in a single molecule of the compound.
Argon gas is made up of individual atoms of argon. It is a noble gas and exists as single atoms rather than as molecules.
There are no argon molecules. It exists in the form of single atoms.
A molecule contain atoms.
Many organic molecules contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Atmospheric oxygen contains three oxygen atoms per molecule. This is known as ozone and is formed in the upper part of the atmosphere by solar rays. O2 molecules are split apart by the energy of solar rays. Then single oxygen atoms bond with oxygen molecules to form O3 molecules. UV radiation from the sun also dissociates O3 molecules back into single O and O2.
Iron (Fe) consists of single atoms, nitrate (NO3-) consists of molecules, and nitrogen tetrafluoride (N2F4) consists of molecules.
Some elements form monatomic molecules because they have a stable electron configuration when they exist as single atoms. These elements have filled valence electron shells, making it energetically favorable for them to exist as single atoms rather than bonding with other atoms to form molecules.
No, molecules and elements are not the same thing. An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, while a molecule is a group of atoms bonded together. Elements can exist as single atoms or as molecules depending on their chemical composition.
atoms have one substance, when molecules have many. They bioth have ele torn