Which term describes a group of atoms bonded together?

Which term describes a group of atoms bonded together?

• A. Atom
• B. Molecule
• C. Ion
• D. Compound

Answer: (B)

When atoms join together by chemical bonds, they form a molecule. A molecule is the smallest unit of a substance that can exist independently and still have the properties of that substance, and it can be made from two or more atoms. An atom by itself is just one unit, so it isn’t a group. An ion is a charged particle created when electrons are gained or lost, which is a different concept from simply being a bonded group. A compound is a substance made from two or more elements chemically combined; many compounds are molecules, but the defining idea is the combination of different elements in a fixed ratio. So the term for a group of atoms bonded together is molecule. For example, water is a molecule and a compound, while O2 is a molecule but not a compound.

When atoms join together by chemical bonds, they form a molecule. A molecule is the smallest unit of a substance that can exist independently and still have the properties of that substance, and it can be made from two or more atoms. An atom by itself is just one unit, so it isn’t a group. An ion is a charged particle created when electrons are gained or lost, which is a different concept from simply being a bonded group. A compound is a substance made from two or more elements chemically combined; many compounds are molecules, but the defining idea is the combination of different elements in a fixed ratio. So the term for a group of atoms bonded together is molecule. For example, water is a molecule and a compound, while O2 is a molecule but not a compound.