Difference Between Molecule and Compound

Introduction

There is a significant distinction between molecules as well as compounds that everybody should understand. Molecules are formed when chemical bonds connect any 2 or more atoms. While compounds are molecules made up of distinct atoms of distinct chemical elements. All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds. A molecule is just any grouping of atoms. Nonetheless, when the atom combinations differ from elements, its referred to as a compound. Hydrogen gas (H₂)as well as oxygen (O₂), are all molecules since they contain 2 or more atoms. While calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), NaCl, and H₂ O are classified as compounds since they include various components.

What is a molecule?

It is the smallest particle of the components that make up a chemical element, and its characteristics are fundamentally comparable to those of elements. They are made up of atoms that are bound together by significant chemical bonds. This bond might be electrovalent, meaning it is formed by the sharing of electrons, or covalent, meaning it is formed by the exchange of electrons. They are distinguished from ions by their neutral nature, meaning they have neither positive (+) nor negative (-) charge. They are generated simply by the reaction of 2 atoms. E.g., N₂, O₂ as well as H₂.

Homonuclear vs heteronuclear

Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules	Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules
They are made up of two atoms of the same chemical element that are joined together by covalent bonds.	They are compounds made up of 2 atoms of 2 distinct chemical elements that are joined together by covalent bonds.
Stable isotopes are extremely stable but do not decay radioactively.	They have atoms of different chemical elements.
They have nonpolar covalent bonds.	They have polar covalent bonds.
They have identical atoms.	They have different atoms.

Compound definition

They are chemical compounds generated by the chemical bonding of atoms from various elements. These various atoms each have a distinct charge; positively (+) charged (atom) is electron deficient, whereas negatively (-) charged (atoms) are electron efficient. By bonding together thus generating a new molecule, these 2 distinct atoms join together to achieve neutrality. E.g., hydrogen atoms with a positive charge, H+, as well as oxygen (O) atoms with a negative charge, join chemically with a proportional mass to form water (H₂O). As a result, water is a compound since it is generated by the bonding of 2 separate elements, hydrogen plus oxygen. Carbon dioxide is also one of the example of a compound.

Chemical formula

They are distinguished by their chemical formula. A chemical formula is detailed on the atom pieces that make up a certain chemical compound. Water has the chemical formula H₂ O, which represents 2 hydrogen atoms as well as 1 oxygen atom united to create 1 H₂ O. The chemical formula for table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), which reveals that 1 atom of sodium (Na), as well as 1 atom of chlorine (Cl), combine to make 1 sodium chloride (NaCl).

Types of compounds

They are categorised into 2 groups based on their origin.

Inorganic compounds − They are generally obtained from non-living sources like rocks as well as minerals. E.g., common salt, marble, washing soda, baking soda, carbon dioxide, ammonia, sulphuric acid etc

Organic compounds − The term organ refers to a variety of organs found in living creatures. Organic compounds are those formed from living organisms such as plants as well as animals. Carbon (C) has been identified as an important component of all organic molecules. They are often known as carbon (C) compounds. E.g., Methane, ethane, propane, alcohol, acetic acid, sugar, proteins, oils, lipids, etc

They are categorised into 3 groups based on their properties.

Acids are sour chemical compounds that react with water (H₂O) to change blue litmus paper to red. E.g., sulfuric acid (H₂ SO₄), lactic acid (C₃ H₆O₃)_, hydrochloric acid (HCl), citric acid (C₆ H₆ O₇), carbonic acid (H₂ CO₃), nitric acid (HNO₃), and others.

Bases are bitter chemical compounds that react with water (H₂ O) to change red litmus paper blue. E.g., calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂, magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)_2, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and others.

Salt is formed by the interaction of an acid and a base. E.g., sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), calcium nitrate, zinc sulphate, and others.

Example of compounds

• NaCl (salt)

• H₂ O₂ (hydrogen peroxide)

• C₂ H₆ O (alcohol)

• CH₄ (methane)

• C₅₅ H₇₂ O₅ N₄ Mg (chlorophyll)

Examples of some commonly used compounds along with molecular formula

Common Name	Chemical Compounds	Formula
Epsom salt	Magnesium sulphate heptahydrate	MgSO4.7H2 O
Antiformin/ Chloride of Soda	Sodium hypochlorite	NaOCl/NaClO
Bleaching Powder	Calcium Oxychloride	CaOCl2
Dry Ice	Solid carbon dioxide	CO2
Caustic potash	Potassium hydroxide	KOH
Chloroform	Trichloromethane	CHCl3
Cream of tartar	Potassium hydrogen tartrate/ potassium bitartrate	KC4 H5 O6
Dolomite	Calcium magnesium carbonate	CaMg(CO3)2
Calomel	Mercurous chloride	Hg2 Cl2
Borax	Sodium tetraborate decahydrate/ Sodium Borate	Na2 B4 O7.10H2 O
Glauber’s Salt	Sodium sulphate decahydrate	Na2 SO4.10H2 O
Glycerol	Propane-1,2,3-triol	C3 H8 O3
Gypsum	Calcium sulphate dihydrate	CaSO4.2H2O
Baking Soda	Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate	NaHCO3

Difference between molecule and compound

Molecules	Compounds
They are made up of 2 or more atoms that have been chemically connected.	They are made up of 2 or more distinct elements that have been chemically combined.
They might be heteronuclear as well as homonuclear in nature.	They are made up of several components.
Can be volatile.	Because they are in physical form, they are constantly steady.
Covalent or ionic bonding	Bonds that are ionic, metallic, or covalent
Not all molecules are compounds.	All compounds are molecules.
Not visible with the naked eye	Easily visible with the naked eye
A group of atoms held together by a strong force	Genuine matter in its entirety

Conclusion

As a result, it is evident how molecules, as well as a compound, are connected, although both have various features including characteristics based on their constituents but also atoms. The mass of each molecule varies depending on the atom from which it is formed, thus the mass of each compound varies. Along with mass, other qualities like hardness, colour, state, etc, are all reliant on atoms since the atom is the basic unit on which both molecules, as well as compounds, rely. Water, methane, but also greenhouse gases are examples of molecules that are also compounds.

FAQs

1. What are the different kinds of molecules?

A monoatomic molecule is 1 that includes only 1 element's atom. E.g., Na,He and so on. A diatomic molecule is 1 that has 2 atoms in an element's molecule. E.g., O₂ as well as N₂. A polyatomic molecule is 1 that has more than 2 atoms in an element's molecule. E.g., P₄,S₈, and so on.

2. Share some instances of molecules.

Ozone, an oxygen molecule, plus nitrogen are examples of molecules.

3. What are the 3 sorts of compounds depending on their bond?

Ionic compounds, covalent compounds, as well as coordinate compounds are the 3 kinds of compounds.

4. Is it possible for a molecule to have only 1 atom?

It is defined as an electrically neutral collection of 2 or more atoms bound together via chemical bonds. So, by definition, a molecule cannot be produced from a single atom.

5. When atoms join to create molecules, what happens?

As atoms join to create molecules, chemical bonds hold them together. These bonds are formed when atoms share or exchange electrons. just the electrons in the outermost shell are bonding active.