molecule

(noun)

Two or more atoms that are held together by a chemical covalent bond.

Related Terms

  • covalent
  • structural formula
  • molecular formula
  • empirical formula
  • molecular geometry
  • isomer
  • compound

Examples of molecule in the following topics:

  • Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules

    • Diatomic molecules are composed of only two atoms, of either the same or different chemical elements.
    • Common diatomic molecules include hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
    • All diatomic molecules are linear, which is the simplest spatial arrangement of atoms.
    • Translational energies (the molecule moving from point A to point B)
    • A space-filling model of the homonuclear diatomic molecule nitrogen.
  • Molecules

    • Most often, the term "molecules" refers to multiple atoms; a molecule may be composed of a single chemical element, as with oxygen (O2), or of multiple elements, such as water (H2O).
    • Most molecules are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
    • The full elemental composition of a molecule can be precisely represented by its molecular formula, which indicates the exact number of atoms that are in the molecule.
    • Isomers are molecules with the same atoms in different geometric arrangements.
    • Each molecule is a structural isomer of the other.
  • Polyatomic Molecules

    • A polyatomic molecule is a single entity composed of at least three covalently-bonded atoms.
    • Molecules are distinguished from ions by their lack of electrical charge.
    • The science of molecules is called molecular chemistry or molecular physics, depending on the focus.
    • A pure substance is composed of molecules with the same average geometrical structure.
    • Molecules with the same atoms in different arrangements are called isomers.
  • Dipole-Dipole Force

    • Molecules that contain dipoles are called polar molecules and are very abundant in nature.
    • A dipole is a molecule that has split charge.
    • The negatively charged oxygen atom of one molecule attracts the positively charged hydrogen of another molecule.
    • Attractions between polar molecules vary.
    • Choose a pair of molecules from the drop-down menu and "pull" on the star to separate the molecules.
  • Introduction to Intermolecular Forces

    • Our chief focus up to this point has been to discover and describe the ways in which atoms bond together to form molecules.
    • Since all observable samples of compounds and mixtures contain a very large number of molecules (ca. !
    • 020), we must also concern ourselves with interactions between molecules, as well as with their individual structures.
    • All atoms and molecules have a weak attraction for one another, known as van der Waals attraction.
    • This attractive force has its origin in the electrostatic attraction of the electrons of one molecule or atom for the nuclei of another.
  • Ion-Dipole Force

    • The ion-dipole force is an intermolecular attraction between an ion and a polar molecule.
    • However, ion-dipole forces involve ions instead of solely polar molecules.
    • An ion-induced dipole force occurs when an ion interacts with a non-polar molecule.
    • Ion-dipole forces are generated between polar water molecules and a sodium ion.
    • The oxygen atom in the water molecule has a slight negative charge and is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
  • Dipole Moment

    • A dipole exists when a molecule has areas of asymmetrical positive and negative charge.
    • At one extreme, a symmetrical molecule such as chlorine, Cl2, has 0 dipole moment.
    • Symmetry is another factor in determining if a molecule has a dipole moment.
    • As a result, carbon dioxide is a nonpolar molecule.
    • When a molecule consists of more than two atoms, more than one bond is holding the molecule together.
  • Condensation Reactions

    • Condensation is a chemical reaction in which one molecule is formed and one small molecule (often water) is lost.
    • In a condensation reaction, two molecules or parts thereof combine, releasing a small molecule.
    • When this small molecule is water, it is known as a dehydration reaction.
    • When two separate molecules react, their condensation is termed intermolecular.
    • An example is the Dieckmann condensation, in which the two ester groups of a single diester molecule react with each other to lose a small alcohol molecule and form a β-ketoester product.
  • Boiling & Melting Points

    • As temperature is increased, there is a corresponding increase in the vigor of translational and rotation motions of all molecules, as well as the vibrations of atoms and groups of atoms within molecules.
    • Large molecules have more electrons and nuclei that create van der Waals attractive forces, so their compounds usually have higher boiling points than similar compounds made up of smaller molecules.
    • The upper row consists of roughly spherical molecules, whereas the isomers in the lower row have cylindrical or linear shaped molecules.
    • The distance between molecules in a crystal lattice is small and regular, with intermolecular forces serving to constrain the motion of the molecules more severely than in the liquid state.
    • Spherically shaped molecules generally have relatively high melting points, which in some cases approach the boiling point.
  • Avogadro's Law: Volume and Amount

    • The model contains gas molecules under constant pressure.
    • Run the model and select different numbers of molecules from the drop-down menu.
    • What is the relationship between the number of molecules and the volume of a gas?
    • It was originally assumed that 1 hydrogen and 1 oxygen atom went into a water molecule.
    • Using Avogadro's Law, this experiment confirmed that 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen form 1 water molecule.
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