What is the difference between atoms, molecules, compounds and mixtures?
I’ll be nice and tell you. Some people are mean. Atoms are specific single elements, like iron — you can have an iron atom. But only one. Diatomic gases (like oxygen [O2] and hydrogen [H2]) are technically considered molecules, and noble gases may be considered molecules as well — however I doubt that diatomic and noble gases matter to you, so I wouldn’t worry about that. Compounds consist of more than one element bonded covalently, metallically, ionically or in a complex. Diatomic gases are not compounds; two or more different elements must be present in a compound. Molecules are covalently bonded compounds, meaning that they’re composed of more than one atom and they share electrons — they are not bonded metallically or ionically. Mixtures are a combination of multiple compounds. They can be homogeneous (evenly mixed throughout) or heterogeneous (seperately mixed, like oil and water sitting atop each other).
