What term describes a group of atoms bonded together?

Prepare for the Pre-IB Grade 9 Science Exam with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question is paired with hints and thorough explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

Multiple Choice

What term describes a group of atoms bonded together?

Explanation:
When atoms bond, they form a molecule—the smallest unit that has its own set of properties and a definite composition. A molecule can be just two atoms of the same element, like oxygen gas (O2), or a combination of different elements, like water (H2O). The key idea is that a molecule is a group of bonded atoms acting as a single unit. A molecule can be a pure element’s diatomic form or a compound formed from different elements. A compound is specifically a substance made from two or more elements chemically joined, and that compound is itself a molecule. So all compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds (some molecules consist of atoms from only one element). A solvent, on the other hand, is a substance that dissolves other substances; it’s not defined by how its atoms are bonded into groups. An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, which may form molecules when its atoms bond, but the term describes the kind of substance, not the bonded group itself.

When atoms bond, they form a molecule—the smallest unit that has its own set of properties and a definite composition. A molecule can be just two atoms of the same element, like oxygen gas (O2), or a combination of different elements, like water (H2O). The key idea is that a molecule is a group of bonded atoms acting as a single unit.

A molecule can be a pure element’s diatomic form or a compound formed from different elements. A compound is specifically a substance made from two or more elements chemically joined, and that compound is itself a molecule. So all compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds (some molecules consist of atoms from only one element).

A solvent, on the other hand, is a substance that dissolves other substances; it’s not defined by how its atoms are bonded into groups. An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, which may form molecules when its atoms bond, but the term describes the kind of substance, not the bonded group itself.

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