Milady Esthetics State Board Complete Practice Test 2025

When two or more atoms bond chemically, they create a molecule. This occurs when atoms share electrons through covalent bonds or when ions are held together by ionic bonds. A molecule is the simplest structural unit of a substance that retains all of the properties of that substance, and it can consist of two or more atoms of the same or different elements.

In contrast, a compound specifically refers to a type of molecule that is formed from at least two different elements. While every compound is a molecule, not all molecules are compounds; for example, O2 (oxygen gas) is a molecule but not a compound since it consists of only one element.

An element refers to a pure substance consisting entirely of one type of atom, which doesn’t bond with other atoms chemically to form anything new. Lastly, an ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electric charge, and is not the result of a straightforward chemical bond.

Thus, when considering the bonding of two or more atoms, the creation of a molecule is the most accurate answer.