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A compound and a molecule are not the same because a molecule is two of the same elements joined together, while a compound is two or more different elements joined together, so why are compounds and molecules the same when talking about particles of matter
Accepted Answer
That's a great question! You're actually touching on a common misconception. A molecule is formed when two or more atoms bond together, regardless of whether they are the same or different elements.
For example, oxygen gas (O2) is a molecule composed of two oxygen atoms, and water (H2O) is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Now, a compound is a specific type of molecule where the atoms are from different elements. So, water is a compound because it's made of hydrogen and oxygen.
The key difference is that all compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds. Oxygen gas (O2) is a molecule, but it's not a compound because it's made of only one element.
Therefore, when talking about particles of matter, 'compound' and 'molecule' are often used interchangeably because most compounds are molecules. However, it's crucial to understand the distinction between the two terms.
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