Atoms are the basic structure of every piece of matter, but they don't like to hang out by themselves. They are social and want to be attached to something else. Good thing! Molecules are everywhere in the bazillions! In fact our bodies are made up of bazillions of molecules! Molecules are made up of atoms that are stuck together in a particular shape or form. Not all atoms like to make certain forms. Certain atoms are attracted to certain atoms (ionic bonds) and other atoms like to share their valence electrons with certain other atoms (covalent bonds). In gases like air, the molecules are just flying around. In liquids like water, the molecules are stuck together but they can still move. In solids like sugar, the molecules can only vibrate. There is also another state of matter known as plasma where the molecules fly around crazier and faster than those in a gas. For a molecule to exist, atoms have to stick together. This happens when two atoms share electrons. Instead of circling just one atom, the electron now circles around two. This is called bonding. The shared electrons are called 'bonds'. Sometimes, more than one electron is shared. The more electrons are shared, the stronger the bond gets and the stronger the atoms stick together. Bonds can also be broken apart. Since most bonds require energy to form, they also give off energy when they are broken. But before most bonds break, the molecule has to be heated. Then the atoms start to move, and when they move too much, the bond breaks. Molecules that require less energy to break than they give off when broken are called fuels. For example, a candle will just sit there and nothing happens. But when you use a match to light it, it will burn for a long time. The match brings the energy to break the first bonds, which release enough energy to break the bonds below them, until the candle has burned down. Molecules are pretty might and pretty cool because they are the tiniest particles held together by bonds.
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |