What Is Molecular Chemistry?

Molecular chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of molecules, which are the fundamental units of chemical compounds.

It explores the composition, structure, properties, and reactivity of molecules, as well as the various interactions between them. Molecular chemistry delves into the understanding of chemical bonding, molecular geometry, and the behavior of molecules in different chemical reactions. It plays a crucial role in fields such as organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry, contributing to our understanding of the building blocks of matter and their roles in the physical and biological worlds.

This guide will give beginners an overview of the exciting science of molecules, which are the building blocks of the world and everything in it. Here’s everything you need to know about atoms, molecular bonds and some unique molecules in everyday life. 

The Fundamental Building Block- What Is Molecular Chemistry?

Molecular chemistry specifically focuses on the study and synthesis of molecules. Chemistry relies heavily on understanding molecules, which make up everything from table salt to our DNA. 

Molecular chemists specialize in understanding molecules deeply to develop new molecules for various applications, ranging from biology and medicine to electronics. For example, the science of gene editing is based on understanding and engineering the way that DNA molecules are constructed. 

What Is a Molecule? 

A molecule is a combination of two or more atoms, which are the smallest units of the elements on the periodic table. Each element’s atoms have different masses and numbers of electrons and protons. The protons are located in the nucleus, the central hub of the atom. 

Meanwhile, the electrons float around the nucleus in rings known as atomic orbitals, valence shells or energy levels. Each one can only hold a certain number of electrons. Once an energy level is complete, electrons start filling the next one, going outward from the nucleus. All atoms’ energy levels are filled from lowest to highest. 

The number of electrons an atom has is especially important because it determines how it interacts with other particles. Electrons play a major role in forming molecules, combinations of multiple atoms in various types of bonds. 

Molecular Chemistry Basics: Types of Molecules

Molecular chemistry is a complex topic that chemists spend years learning. It can be a challenging subject for those just beginning to explore molecular chemistry to dive into. Here are the absolute basics, starting with the types of molecules. 

Types of Molecules

If someone were to ask, “what is molecular chemistry,” the simplest answer would be “the science of molecules.” Molecules are more complex than many of us give them credit for. They are generally two or more atoms stuck together, but several different kinds of molecules exist. They make up virtually everything we interact with daily — even humans are made of molecules. 

DNA is a nucleic acid molecule, with each strand made up of smaller molecules called nucleotides. Similarly, plastics and many other materials are made of polymers, long strings of smaller molecules called monomers. Scientists’ understanding of molecules has grown exponentially over the years. In fact, molecular chemists have even developed tiny magnetic molecule barcodes that can be attached to molecules, allowing them to be easily identified during research projects. 

Diatomic and Polyatomic Molecules

There are two basic types of molecules: diatomic and polyatomic. A diatomic molecule contains only two atoms bonded together, while a polyatomic molecule contains more than two atoms. 

Diatomic molecules can be either homonuclear or heteronuclear. A homonuclear molecule contains two matching atoms, while a heteronuclear molecule has two different ones. 

Isomers and Ions

Two unique kinds of molecules are isomers and ions. Isomers are a strange phenomenon of molecular chemistry. These molecules contain the same atoms and the same number of them but with different chemical and physical properties. This is possible because the atoms bond in many ways, making each isomer behave differently despite having the same ingredients. 

Ions can be atoms or molecules. These are positively or negatively charged due to their balance of electrons and protons. Ions can only form a specific type of molecular bond. 

Beginner’s Guide to Molecular Bonds

Molecular bonds are the bread and butter of molecular chemistry. There would be no molecules without them, only lone atoms. Bonds can be quite complex, but there are a few core types and concepts to be aware of. 

How Many Bonds Can an Atom Form?

Whether a molecule is diatomic or polyatomic depends partly on the number of bonds each atom can form. This is due to the electrons and energy levels. Atoms bond in such a way that they can have a complete “octet” of eight electrons in their outermost energy level. Forming bonds allows atoms to borrow or share the electrons of others and complete their octets. 

For example, water is made of the molecule H2O, which contains two hydrogen and one oxygen atom. Oxygen has six electrons in its outermost energy level, so it can form two bonds to fill in the last two electron “seats” and complete its octet. 

Hydrogen atoms only have one electron, though. Since they only have one electron to share, hydrogen atoms can only form one bond. These single-bond atoms perfectly match oxygen’s two empty electron seats. Oxygen bonds with two hydrogen atoms, which don’t bond with each other, and water is created. 

Covalent Molecular Bonds

H2O is made of a type of molecular bond called a covalent bond. A good way to remember this one is to think of it as co-living for electrons — atoms all share their electrons with one another to form the bond. 

How the electrons are shared in a covalent bond depends on each atom’s unique electronegativity. This is a property of atoms that determines how much they attract electrons, and it specifies a molecule’s polarity. 

Polarity is the positive or negative charge of a molecule's atoms depending on how their electrons are shared. A particle with higher electronegativity will attract more electrons. The exception is nonpolar covalent bonds, which form when both atoms have approximately equal electronegativity. 

Ionic Molecular Bonds

There are also ionic bonds in addition to the various covalent bonds. These are specific to ions, which are positively or negatively charged atoms — although molecules themselves can also be ions. A covalent bond is a sharing of electrons, but an ionic bond is more like a trade or sale. 

In ionic bonds, ions trade electrons to adjust for their charges. A positively charged ion needs electrons while a negatively charged one needs protons, so opposites literally attract. Ionic bonds are only formed between metal elements and non-metals due to the charges. 

They often form crystal-like structures, such as the well-known molecule sodium chloride, better known as table salt. Interestingly, ionic bonds are much weaker than covalent bonds and can be dissolved in solutions such as water. 

The Science of Molecular Chemistry

“What is molecular chemistry?” The short answer: the science of everything. Everything we can feel, touch, see and even smell is made up of atoms bonded with one another in molecules. Molecular chemistry is the science of these vital molecules — how they form, how they work, and how they can help us improve medicine and science.