AFOQT Practice Test

What occurs when two or more atoms join together?

1. They create an isotope

2. They form a bond

3. They form a molecule

4. They become a mixture

The correct answer is: They form a molecule

When two or more atoms join together, they form a molecule. A molecule is defined as the smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its chemical properties, and it is created when atoms bond covalently. This type of bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, resulting in a stable arrangement. While the creation of an isotope refers to variations of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, and forming a bond relates more generally to the attractive forces that hold atoms together, these concepts do not specifically describe the union of multiple atoms into a distinct entity like a molecule does. Additionally, a mixture involves the physical combination of substances without forming chemical bonds, which is also distinct from the formation of a molecule. Thus, the formation of a molecule directly describes the outcome of two or more atoms joining together in a chemical sense.