Dear Student,
Followings are the difference between the atom and molecules:
Atom |
Molecule |
- It is a smallest particle of an element.
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- It is a group of two or more atoms combined together, so it is bigger.
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- It consists of nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) and electrons.
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- It consists of combination of two or more like or different atoms chemically bound together e.g. H2, HCl, NaCl etc.
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- It can neither be seen through naked eye nor through magnifying microscope.
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- It is not visible to naked eye, while can be seen through highly magnifying microscope.
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- It cannot be further divided.
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- It can further be divided to give individual atoms.
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- It may or may not have independent existence.
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- It are capable of having independent existence.For example, atom of oxygen (O) has no independent existence while its molecule exists as O2 in nature
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- It has nuclear bond or attraction within it i.e. it involves electrostatic attraction between the positive nucleus and electrons.
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- It has chemical attraction or bonding between the atoms i.e. it involves single, double or triple bonds between the atoms.
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Regards