Question

Sam says that all molecules are compounds. Jac disagrees and says that all compounds are molecules. Who is right and why?Both Sam and Jack are correct because molecules and compounds are the same thing.

Sam is correct because all compounds have at least two atoms bonded together and all molecules have at least two atoms bonded together.


Jac is correct because a molecule has at least two atoms bonded together and all compounds have at least two different atoms bonded together.


Neither Jac nor Sam are correct because molecules and compounds are two different things.

Answer 1

None of the above.

Sam and Jac are both wrong, but not for the above reasons.

Molecules and compounds are not the same thing. Molecules of compounds have at least two different atoms bonded together, while those of elements have at least two of the same atoms bonded together.

Not all compounds consist of molecules. For example, salt (sodium chloride) consists of sodium ions and chloride ions. An ionic compound does not consist of molecules.