atom
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atom
The smallest chemically indivisible building block of a chemical element. It consists of an atomic nucleus and an electron shell.
Ein Wassermolekül besteht aus zwei Wasserstoffatomen und einem Sauerstoffatom.
A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
'Atom-' (atomic/nuclear) is a very productive word component for many compound nouns, especially in the areas of energy, science, and the military.
Die Debatte über Atomenergie ist in Deutschland sehr emotional.
The debate about nuclear energy is very emotional in Germany.
The word 'Atom' (atom) is mainly used in scientific contexts (physics, chemistry) or in discussions about energy policy and weapons technology.
Im Physikunterricht lernen wir den Aufbau eines Atoms.
In physics class, we learn the structure of an atom.
Common scientific expressions are 'ein Atom spalten' (to split an atom), 'der Kern eines Atoms' (the nucleus of an atom), or the description that something 'aus Atomen besteht' (consists of atoms).
Bei der Kernspaltung wird ein Atom in kleinere Teile zerlegt.
In nuclear fission, an atom is broken down into smaller parts.
element
'das Element' and 'das Atom' both belong to chemistry, but they do not mean the same thing. A chemical element is a type of substance, for example oxygen or iron. An atom is one single smallest building block of such an element. Learners may confuse the words because both are often explained together in chemistry. The important point is: an element consists of atoms of the same type; an atom is a single particle of that element.
Ein Atom ist so klein, dass man es mit normalen Augen nicht sehen kann.
An atom is so small that you cannot see it with the naked eye.
Sauerstoff ist ein Element, das wir zum Atmen brauchen.
Oxygen is an element that we need for breathing.