noun
molecule
MOL-ih-kyool/ˈmɑːlɪkjuːl/
A group of atoms bonded together as a chemical unit.
A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Etymology
The pieces mean “little mass.” Initially an extremely minute particle, a molecule became the smallest unit into which a substance could be divided without losing its chemical character.
In context
a methyl group is a carbon atom with three hydrogen atoms attached to it methylation is a reaction in which a methyl group is attached to a molecule
More examples
- Each oxygen molecule in the air contains two oxygen atoms.
- Sugar molecules spread through the water as the sugar dissolves.
- Heat makes the molecules in this gas move faster.
Forms
molecule · molecules
molecular adjective — Relating to molecules or their structure.
Similar words
- particle
- A broader term for small units, including atoms and molecules.