Final answer:
Atoms are the fundamental building blocks that combine to form molecules, analogous to bricks forming a structure. Models help visualize these entities despite being unable to see them directly. Atoms bond to form molecules, which are the chemical building blocks of all matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between atoms and molecules is best described by acknowledging that atoms serve as the fundamental building blocks that combine to form molecules. A helpful analogy is to consider atoms as individual bricks and a molecule as the structure built from these bricks. For instance, in a water molecule, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom join together, with each atom analogous to an individual brick combining to build the 'house' that is the water molecule (H₂O).
Scientific models are crucial because they provide a conceptual framework for understanding the structure and behavior of atoms and molecules. The use of models, such as the atomic model or diagrams of molecular structure, allows us to visualize and conceptualize the tiny, unseen world of atoms and molecules. Although these models are not complete representations of the actual entities, they offer a starting point that aids in our understanding of chemical structures and processes.
Atoms are made up of even smaller subatomic particles such as protons, electrons, and neutrons. When two or more atoms chemically bond, they form molecules, which are the chemical building blocks of all matter, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the components of living cells. Molecules retain specific chemical properties that define the substance they make up, and without molecules, you would not have the various compounds that make up the physical world.