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molecule
The smallest unit of a chemical compound which retains the composition and chemical properties of the compound. A molecule consist of two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds. The composition of a molecule is represented by its molecular formula. Elements may consist as molecules, e.g., oxygen (O2), phosphorus (P4).
Molecules range in size from two atoms to macromeolecules, such as proteins and polymers, with molecular weights of 10,000 or more. The chief properties of molecules are their structure (bond lengths and angles) – determined by electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy – spectra, and dipole moments.
Related category
• PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
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