Molekül

Molekül (German for molecule) is the term for the smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its properties. A Molekül consists of two or more atoms bound together by chemical bonds and can exist as a discrete entity. The concept is central to chemistry, physics, and biology.

Moleküle can be homonuclear or heteronuclear. Diatomic molecules such as O2 and N2 consist of two atoms of the same or different elements. More complex examples include water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Molecules range from a few atoms to large polymers and biological macromolecules.

The bonds that hold atoms in a Molekül are typically covalent, produced by sharing electron pairs. Ionic bonds form compounds as assemblies of ions and are not always described as discrete molecules. Noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, influence shape and properties. The three-dimensional arrangement is described by molecular geometry and theories like VSEPR; isomers share the same formula but differ in structure.

Molecular properties include mass, polarity, dipole moment, and reactivity, which determine physical properties such as boiling and melting points. Molecules are studied by techniques including infrared and Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography in the solid state.

As building blocks of matter, Moleküle underpin chemistry, biology, and materials science. From simple diatomic species to complex biochemical macromolecules, the study of Moleküle links structure to function and explains how substances behave under different conditions.