A molecule is defined as what type of particle?

A molecule is defined as an electrically neutral particle composed of two or more atoms that are chemically bonded together. This definition highlights the important aspects of what a molecule is: the presence of multiple atoms and the chemical bonds that hold them together, which can include covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons, or other forms of bonding that maintain the integrity of the molecule.

Molecules can vary in complexity—ranging from simple molecules, such as diatomic oxygen (O₂), to large, complex structures like DNA. The key characteristic that distinguishes molecules is that they are formed when atoms bond together, and they retain this neutral charge overall, as the number of protons and electrons are balanced.

While options referring to ions or simple atoms provide definitions for different types of particles, they do not encompass the concept of multiple atoms bonded together that defines a molecule. Similarly, the mention of solid crystal structures relates to the arrangement of atoms in a solid state rather than the specific definition of what constitutes a molecule.