Definition

Relating to a molecule that consists of three or more atoms.

Example

Water is a polyatomic molecule because it has three atoms: two hydrogen and one oxygen.

Conversation

Did you know that water is actually a polyatomic molecule?

Really? I thought it was just two atoms.

Nope, it has three atoms in total, including oxygen.

That’s pretty interesting; I guess chemistry is more complex than I thought!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polyatomic → It is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "atomic" (from Greek "atomos", meaning indivisible). The word "polyatomic" refers to a molecule that consists of many atoms, indicating a structure made up of multiple indivisible units.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') atoms ('atomic') coming together to form a single molecule.

Visually Confused Words