Atoms, Elements, Molecules, and Compounds Vocabulary

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What is an atom?

Back

An atom is the smallest particle of an element that retains the properties of that element. It is the basic building block of matter.

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What is an element?

Back

An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Each element is made up of atoms that have the same number of protons.

Front

What is a molecule?

Back

A molecule is a group of two or more atoms bonded together. Molecules can consist of the same or different types of atoms.

Front

What is a compound?

Back

A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio.

Front

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

Back

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, while a compound is made of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together.

Front

Give an example of a molecule that is not a compound.

Back

O2 (oxygen gas) is a molecule made up of two oxygen atoms, and it is not a compound because it consists of only one type of element.

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What are the four states of matter?

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The four states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

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What is the periodic table?

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The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of all known elements, organized by increasing atomic number and grouped by similar chemical properties.

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What is a chemical bond?

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A chemical bond is the force that holds atoms together in a molecule or compound. The main types of chemical bonds are ionic and covalent bonds.

Front

What is a chemical reaction?

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A chemical reaction is a process that involves the rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, resulting in the formation of new substances.