Answer to Question #189258 in General Chemistry for anum

Question

Differentiate between the followings:

      I. Atoms and molecules      II. Elements and compounds

Answer 1

I) An atom is the smallest particle of an element which does not exist free in nature but takes part directly in chemical combinations while a 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.

II) Elements are pure substances consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their atomic nuclei while compounds are chemical substance composed of many identical molecules composed of atoms from more than one element held together by chemical bonds.