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Home Q & A Board Science-Related Homework Help Chemistry (Moderator: Laser_3)
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rkdgh2002 rkdgh2002
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11 years ago
How is it possible that only 92 elements are found in the natural world but there are millions of different types of molecules?
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rkim12rkim12
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11 years ago
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#2
11 years ago
Because molecules are made of combinations of elements
let's say you have 4 numbers, how many different numbers can you make by combining those 4 numbers in different orders? A lot
Same idea.
With a base of 92 and multiple ways of putting them together, the total number of combinations gets into the millions
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#3
11 years ago
Heck, there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but hundreds of thousands of words.

There are only 12 notes in the musical scale, but how many different tunes.

You are not thinking, are you?  
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#4
11 years ago
You are confusing elements - atoms - and molecules. There are indeed 92 natural elements, H to U. Each element appears as individual atoms, such as hydrogen atoms, carbon atoms, etc. These individual atoms can and do bond with each other to make molecules, such as methane CH4, water H2O, etc. I hope you are not confused anymore.
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#5
11 years ago
Think of it like a sandwich shop.
They can make 60 different kinds of sandwiches out of 3 kinds of meat, 2 kinds of cheese, and 3 different spreads.
Do you want white or wheat?


Hold the pickle.
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