How to Classify Atomic and Molecular Atoms
The difference between atoms and molecules is one of the central distinctions of basic chemistry. Atoms are the smallest units of matter that compose the elements. Molecules consist of either two or more of the same atom, or two or more different atoms bonded together. It is important to understand how to classify atomic and molecular atoms, because knowing whether the atom is part of an element or a compound can help you to better evaluate the properties of the substance.
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Instructions
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Determine how many atoms are part of the substance. If a single atom is present, then it is an atomic atom that is part of an element. An example is an atom of zinc, or Zn. If there is more than one atom in the substance, then it is a molecular atom. An example is oxygen, or O2.
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Memorize which elements are diatomic. Some of the gases on the periodic table exist in diatomic form, which means that two of the atoms are bonded together. The diatomic gases are nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and hydrogen. These diatomic gases are considered molecules.
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Differentiate between the coefficients and subscripts of the chemical formulas. When classifying atoms and molecules, knowing what the numbers represent is important. The coefficients appear before the formula and indicate the number of molecules present. The subscripts are to the lower right corner of the element and indicate the number of atoms of that element. For example, in 2H2O, there are two water molecules, two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.
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References
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: Periodic Table of Elements
- The Free Dictionary: Atom
- Merriam-Webster: Molecule
- Estrella Mountain (Arizona) Community College: Chemistry 1 -- Atoms and Molecules
- Fulton-Montgomery (New York) Community College: Chemistry -- Atoms and Molecules
- Roanoke Valley Governor's School: Types of Equations
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
