What is the difference between atom and molecule

Atoms and molecules are elements that are part of our material but are very different from each other. While some are the indivisible part of the matter, others form the elements that we can see in our environment. In this article we are going to help you to understand more deeply our world and its functioning, for that reason, we tell you what is the difference between atom and molecule so that, in this way, you understand what all this consists of what we call life .

What is an atom

Before knowing what is the difference between atom and molecule we have to understand the meaning of each of these particles. On the one hand, atoms are the basic elements that make up matter, their size is 0.1 to 0.5 nanometers wide and they are not even visible to the human eye when using devices such as the microscope.

There are different types of atoms and each one of them has a specific mass and size. When we group these atoms by types, it is when we determine the chemical elements. So far 118 elements have been discovered that have been divided into:

• Metals
• Metalloids
• No metals

These elements are found in the periodic table and have been distributed according to their number of atoms.

The composition of atoms

An atom is composed of protons, neutrons (which are in the nucleus, that is, in the center of the nucleus) and electrons that revolve around. These last ones are united to the nucleus thanks to the electromagnetic force that exerts the center of the atom since the electrons have a negative load, whereas the rest, has a positive load.

The atoms of the different elements can join and that is when molecules are formed. This takes place thanks to different chemical reactions.

In we show you to calculate the number of protons, electrons and neutrons of an atom.

What is a molecule

Now let's see what a molecule is . It is the smallest part of a substance and is made up of atoms that are different among themselves and, therefore, are separated from each other. The differentiator of the molecules is that they can react differently to how the elements that make it up, that is, the water (molecule) has a behavior different from oxygen or hydrogen (atoms).

The atoms can be linked together in different ways and, therefore, the molecules can have a different appearance with hexagonal, pentagonal, and so on; In addition, they also tend to bind to other molecules.

At a technical level, molecules are presented with a formula known as " molecular formula ". It is formed by the name of the element in question followed by the number of atoms that are in the molecules, so, an example of this would be:

• Sugar: C6H12O6

The differences between atoms and molecules

So, the difference between atom and molecule is that atoms are the ones that make up matter and, instead, molecules are made up of different atoms that have joined together. This is the main difference.

But, in addition, atoms do not exist individually in nature, they are always linked to another element. However, when a molecule is formed it can exist individually in the medium, for this reason, we can find a molecule of water, carbon, and so on.