Word: Molecule

Pronunciation

/ˈmɑːləkjuːl/

Definitions

• Noun: The smallest particle of a substance that retains all the chemical properties of that substance and is composed of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. For example: “Water molecules are made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.”

Detailed Noun Definition

1. Chemistry: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
2. Biology: The basic building block of matter in living organisms; substances like proteins, DNA, and carbohydrates are all made up of complex molecules.
3. Physics: In a broader sense, any collection of particles (atoms, ions, or other molecules) that behave as a single entity, especially when considering their motion or interactions with other particles.

Phrases

• “Molecular structure”: The arrangement of atoms within a molecule.
• “Molecular weight”: The sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in a molecule.
• “Molecular biology”: The branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity, focusing on macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The carbon dioxide molecule consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.”
• “Scientists were able to manipulate the genetic molecules in order to create a new strain of bacteria.”
• “Understanding the behavior of water molecules is crucial to explaining its unique properties like cohesion and high boiling point.”

Synonyms

• Compound
• Atom cluster
• Molecular unit
• Chemical species
• Mole (in the context of a fixed number of molecules)