Here's a breakdown:
* Atoms: The basic building blocks of matter. They are the smallest unit of an element that can exist.
* Chemical bonds: Forces that hold atoms together. These bonds are formed when atoms share or transfer electrons.
Examples of molecules:
* Water (H₂O): Two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
* Carbon dioxide (CO₂): One carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms.
* Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆): A complex molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Key points about molecules:
* They can be made up of the same type of atom (like oxygen gas, O₂) or different types of atoms (like water, H₂O).
* They can be very simple (like diatomic molecules) or incredibly complex (like proteins).
* Their properties are often different from the atoms they are made of.
Essentially, molecules are the building blocks of everything around us from the air we breathe to the food we eat.