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The Language of Chemistry

Molecules

Most elements make chemical bonds with other atoms to form molecules. This is because most atoms are more stable as part of a molecule than they are as single atoms.

Oxygen gas and nitrogen gas, for example, contain molecules and not single atoms.

These atoms are diatomic which means they are formed from two atoms which are chemically joined together.

The following table shows two diatomic gases:
....

Molecule

Chemical Name

oxygen gas

nitrogen gas

Other diatomic gases are hydrogen gas and chlorine gas. The atoms of these elements are shown below. How can molecules of these gases be represented?

an atom of hydrogen

an atom of chlorine
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