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Difference between a molecule and a compound???

I am so confused.

everything I read about molecules and compounds say the exact same thing for each other and yet they are different?

can someone please explain the difference as summarised and simple as possible? thank you X

all help appreciated :smile:

Reply 1

nzy

Molecules are two or more atoms of an element chemically bonded together.
Compounds are two or more atoms chemically bonded together, where the atoms are of at least 2 different elements.

I.e. All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds.

Reply 2

SmartUnicorn

Original post by nzy

wait so
the difference is that molecules are from the same element?

Reply 3

nzy

Original post by SmartUnicorn

wait so
the difference is that molecules are from the same element?

Not necessarily. Molecules are any substances made from more than one atom, including ones made of atoms of the same element (like H2) AND ones made from atoms of different elements (like H2O). Compounds are specifically the molecules made from atoms of different elements, but they’re still a kind of molecule. H2O is both a compound and a molecule, but H2 is just a molecule.