Atoms & Molecules

Introduction

There is matter in our universe. The matter is anything that maintains a quantity and a space. These things have a fundamental unit that cannot be divided into other parts with various chemical and physical properties. An atom is this fundamental component. An element is a substance that only contains one type of atom. Therefore, the species made up of a specific atom are the elements. For instance, there is only one type of atom in pure platinum metal. The atom was once thought of as an indivisible unit, but now it can be divided, releasing a huge amount of energy in the process.

Define an Atom and Molecule

An atom is the tiniest component of matter. The physical and chemical characteristics of the atoms that make up an element are all the same type. An atom is mono-nuclear, meaning that it has just one nucleus, which is surrounded by electrons and houses protons inside the central mass of the atom, the nucleus.

Chemical bonds bind the minimum required number of atoms in a molecule together. It is the joining of various atoms with the assistance of a chemical bond. The molecule oxygen\(\;({O_2})\) is a diatomic homo nuclear structure made up of two oxygen atoms bound together by a covalent bond.

What is the size of an Atom?

Only an estimation of an atom’s size can be made because it is impossible to measure it precisely. However, an atom’s atomic radius determines its size. Atomic radius is calculated by dividing the distance between adjacent atoms in a compound by two. Radii come in a variety of forms, including metallic, covalent, and ionic radii. The metallic radius is the separation between adjacent atoms in a metal. The covalent radius is the separation between adjacent atoms in a covalent compound. Ionic radii are the distances between adjacent ions in an ionic compound.

How atoms are formed?

The atom is the smallest unit of matter, consisting of a nucleus and electrons. The nucleus is the central portion of the atom that contains the positively charged proton and neutral neutron. And is surrounded by electrons that are negatively charged. Protons, electrons, and neutrons make up an atom. They are collectively known as subatomic particles.

Forces between Atom and a Molecule

Molecules are formed when atoms are held together by a strong chemical bond. These bonds are formed by the interaction of an element’s valence electrons to complete the octet. Chemical bonds are classified into several types. They do,

1.Ionic bond: When two atoms approach each other and have a large electronegativity difference, electrons, and anion forms are accepted. And the one that lost an electron will become an anion. An Ionic bond is formed as a result of the attraction caused by the positive and negative charge.

Image of formation of ionic bond

2.Covalent bond: When atoms with similar electronegativity differences approach each other, they share electrons. And this is a covalent bond.

image of Single covalent bond formation

Summary

Chemistry’s fundamental terms are atoms and molecules. Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of elements. A molecule is formed by the combination of different atoms using a chemical bond. These bonds could be covalent or ionic. Protons, neutrons, and electrons make up an atom. The size of an atom cannot be calculated precisely; only an approximation of size is possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What exactly are isotopes?

Ans. Isotopes are atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers. The same atomic number denotes the same number of protons. And a different mass number means a different neutron number.

2. What is the mass number?

Ans. The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons added to an atom of a chemical element. Lithium, for example, has a mass number of 7. Lithium has 3 protons and 4 neutrons.

3. What is the chemical formula?

Ans. A molecular formula is an expression used to represent a chemical compound that is the simplest whole-number ratio of the composition of elements present in a molecule.

Molecules of Compounds | Types of Compounds

An Introduction to Molecules of Compounds

A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds, which are attractive forces. Molecules are the smallest particles of a substance that possess all of its physical and chemical properties. Many thousands of atoms make up biological molecules like protein and DNA. A compound is a molecule composed of atoms from various chemical elements. Compounds are divided into two types: molecular compounds and ionic compounds. They can only be broken down chemically. Compounds are made up of a fixed number of atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Compounds are homogeneous in nature and cannot be physically separated.

What are Molecules of Compound

A compound molecule is a combination of two or more atoms of different types. This means that molecules of compounds contain atoms from two or more different chemical elements, such as methane, water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and so on. We can further categorize them based on the number of atoms in the molecule. The chemical bonding between the atoms can be either covalent or ionic.

Ionic bonds are always formed between molecules containing cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions). As a result, an ionic compound is always formed between two different chemical elements. Covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share electrons equally.

A compound molecule is a combination of two or more atoms of different types.

What are the types of Elements?

  1. Metals-They are substances with properties such as malleability, ductility, sonority, electrical and thermal conductivity, lustre, and solidity. Metals have extremely high melting points. The majority of pure metals are found in the earth’s crust. They are found in ores, which are solids. Zinc, iron, copper, aluminium, lead, chromium, cadmium, nickel, tin, zinc, and so on.
  2. Non-Metals– They are substances that are neither malleable nor ductile and do not conduct heat or electricity. Carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, silicon, oxygen, and other elements are examples.
  3. Metalloids– A chemical element with properties of both metals and non-metals. Metalloids have properties that fall somewhere between metals and non-metals. For example, arsenic, silicon, boron, and so on.
Elements can be made of one atom. Some elements are monatomic, meaning they are made of a single (mon-) atom (-atomic) in their molecular form.

What are the types of Compounds?

  1. Molecular Compounds-Molecules are compounds that can be formed by the combination of the same or different atoms. The atoms are joined to form a definite shape that is defined by the angles between the bonds and the lengths of the bonds. Carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, and other gases are examples.
  2. Ionic Compounds- It is made up of both positive and negative ions. When dissolved in water, they completely decompose into ions. Examples include sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), copper sulphate (\(CuS{O_4}\)), and others.

Summary

When two or more elements combine chemically in a fixed mass ratio, the resulting product is known as a compound. Compounds are substances made up of two or more different types of elements in a fixed ratio of their atoms. When the elements combine, some of their individual properties are lost, and the newly formed compound has new properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do molecules form?

Ans: When atoms come close together, their electron clouds interact with one another. Other, as well as with nuclei If the energy of the system decreases as a result of the interaction, the atoms bond together to form a molecule.

2. What do you understand by molecules of compounds?

Ans: A molecule is a general term for any atoms that are linked together by chemical bonds. A molecule is any atom combination. A compound is a molecule composed of atoms from various elements. Not all molecules are compounds, but all compounds are molecules.

3. What are the types of Molecules of Compounds?

Ans: There are two types of compounds: molecular compounds and Ionic compounds. Atoms in molecular compounds are held together by covalent bonds. It is held together in salts by ionic bonds. These are the two types of bonds that every compound is composed of.