Which statement best describes a molecule?

Which statement best describes a molecule?

• A. A single atom
• B. A group of two or more atoms bonded together
• C. An ion with a net charge
• D. A substance made of only one element

Answer: (B)

A molecule is formed when two or more atoms are held together by chemical bonds, acting as a single unit with its own properties. This bonding is what distinguishes a molecule from a lone atom and from a simple ionized species. An ion with a net charge describes electrical charge, not the bonding pattern of multiple atoms. A substance made of only one element could be a molecule if it contains two or more bonded atoms of that element (as in O2 or N2), but the statement as given doesn’t specify bonding. So the description that best captures what a molecule is: two or more atoms bonded together.

A molecule is formed when two or more atoms are held together by chemical bonds, acting as a single unit with its own properties. This bonding is what distinguishes a molecule from a lone atom and from a simple ionized species. An ion with a net charge describes electrical charge, not the bonding pattern of multiple atoms. A substance made of only one element could be a molecule if it contains two or more bonded atoms of that element (as in O2 or N2), but the statement as given doesn’t specify bonding. So the description that best captures what a molecule is: two or more atoms bonded together.