A molecule may be homonuclear, that is, it consists of atoms of one chemical element, e.g. two atoms in the oxygen molecule (O 2); or it may be heteronuclear, a chemical compound composed of more than one element, e.g. water (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom; H 2 O).
In general, a molecule is a group of two or more atoms that are chemically bonded together. It is formed when two or more atoms of the same elements or of different elements combine together by chemical combination.
Just like an atom is the smallest unit of an element, a molecule is the smallest unit of a covalent compound. We’ll discuss ionic compounds later and consider why these are separate from molecules.
Just as an atom is the simplest unit that has the fundamental chemical properties of an element, a molecule is the simplest unit that has the fundamental chemical properties of a covalent compound. Some pure elements exist as covalent molecules.
Molecule, a group of two or more atoms that form the smallest identifiable unit into which a pure substance can be divided and still retain the composition and chemical properties of that substance. Learn more about the properties and structures of molecules in this article.
Get the definition of a molecule. See examples of molecules and learn the different between a molecule and a compound.
The meaning of MOLECULE is the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms. How to use molecule in a sentence.
The geometry and arrangement of atoms in a molecule determine the chemical and physical properties of a molecule. Molecules have a wide range of shapes like long spiral, pyramidal, spherical, and oval.