Question

Question #7b466

Answer 1

An element is basically everything you see on the periodic table.

But when two or more elements form a bond like O2, N2, Cl2, etc. They form a molecule.

Answer 2

We call something an element if it's made out of the same atoms.

Some elements 'prefer' to bond as twosomes, like `H_2,O_2, N_2`
There are others, like Phosforous `P_4` or sulphur `S_8`

All of them are called molecules, even the ones that go solo, like `He` or `Ne` (these are called mono-atomic molecules, as opposed to the di-atomic and other molecules above). A molecule is, in a way, a finished product, while the atoms are the building blocks. For some buildings, like the inert gasses above, one block suffices.

Recap:
Element = same kind of atoms througout
Molecule =one or more atoms bound together in a fixed arrangement
If all atoms are the same, it's still an element, otherwise it's called a compound .

Example :
Graphite and diamond are quite different, but they are just two forms of the element `C` carbon.