Molecules and Ions

Although atoms are the smallest unique unit of a particular element, in nature only the noble gases can be found as isolated atoms. Most matter is in the form of ions, or compounds. A molecule is comprised of two or more chemically bonded atoms. The atoms may be of the same type of element, or they may be different. Many elements are found in nature in molecular form - two or more atoms (of the same type of element) are bonded together. Oxygen, for example, is most commonly found in its molecular form "O₂" (two oxygen atoms chemically bonded together).

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