H2O is classified as both a molecule and a compound. To understand why, let’s break down the definitions of these terms.
A molecule is defined as two or more atoms that are chemically bonded together. In the case of H2O, it consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The combination of these atoms through covalent bonds forms a distinct structure, which qualifies H2O as a molecule.
A compound, on the other hand, refers to a substance that is made up of two or more different elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. Since H2O contains two different elements—hydrogen and oxygen—that are chemically joined together, it is also considered a compound.
Therefore, H2O is both a molecule because it is formed from atoms bonded together, and a compound because it consists of more than one type of element.