Question

Which is the smallest possible unit of a chemical compound?
A. Atom
B. Electron
C. Proton
D. Molecule

Answer 1

Hint: Atoms are composed of protons, electrons and neutrons. Electrons are negative particles, protons are the positive particles whereas neutrons have no charge. Atoms bond together to form a molecule.

Complete Step-by-Step Answer:
-A compound is made when two or more than two molecules combine through a bond. Here, the molecules are made from different types of atoms.
-Such as salt compounds are made when sodium and chlorine together make bonds.
-Molecules are considered as the smallest unit that is possible to exist in the chemical compound.
-Atoms are made from the electrons, protons and neutrons when they come together, they form atoms but when atoms combine they form a molecule.
-The molecules also retain the chemical properties and can be of many types such as diatomic molecules which are made up of only two atoms but the same atoms.
-The molecules with the same type of atoms are called homoatomic molecules where those molecules which have different types of atoms are called a heteroatomic molecule.
-For molecule, the atom is the smallest unit which retains the properties of an element. Whereas for the compound, the molecule is the smallest unit which retains the chemical properties of the substance or compound.

Therefore, option D is the correct molecule.

Note: Molecules are the electrically neutral substance that does not have any charge i.e. positive or negative. The atoms combine through covalent or ionic bonds to form a molecule.