Question

Assign each species to the expression that most accurately describes the basic units of that substance. categories: single atoms- Copper, Helium, Ag, diatomic molecules -Iodine, Fluorine, Br2 molecules -No2, KMnO4, formula units - C3H8, MgCl2, HgBr2, Ba(OH)2 this is what i think it is but not sure.

Answer 1

You're correct apart from two in the 'diatomic molecules' section and two which shouldn't be there. Remember, a diatomic molecule is a species with TWO atoms bonded together, and both of these atoms must be from the SAME element (e.g: diatomic oxygen is O2). All molecules must contain only ONE type of element (e.g: H20, water, contains two elements in Hydrogen and Oxygen, so it is a compound/formula unit, not a molecule). I'll give you a hint; look up the periodic table or a list of elements and you should be able to correct some of it....Good Luck! :)

Answer 2

Sorry, I meant to say that there are two in the 'diatomic molecules' section and also two in the 'molecules' section which shouldn't be there!

Answer 3

The term "molecule" is not restricted to being made from only one type of element. There are, both, homo- and heteronuclear diatomic molecules.


"molecules, KMnO4...formula units - C3H8" is incorrect. propane, \(C_3H_8\), is a categorized as a molecule, and KMn\(O_4\) is a formula unit.

Formula units are ionic compounds, while molecules have covalent bonding... except in the case when they are network solids.