molecular

Examples of materials that are not molecular are not exactly rare: most minerals and all metals have a microstructure that is not composed of molecules. Metals have a structure that consists of stacked atoms, that share their electrons. Minerals consist of ions (atoms or 'molecules' that have one or more electrons too many or too few, which gives them negative or positive charge, respectively), that are connected with ionic bonds rather than molecular bonds.

---

ometeotl, if you're still around and want to add this w/u to yours, let me know!

Mo*lec"u*lar (?), a. [Cf. F. mol'eculare. See Molecule.] Phys. & Chem.

Pertaining to, connected with, produced by, or consisting of, molecules; as, molecular forces; molecular groups of atoms, etc.

Molecular attraction Phys., attraction acting between the molecules of bodies, and at insensible distances. -- Molecular weight Chem., the weight of a molecule of any gas or vapor as compared with the hydrogen atom as a standard; the sum of the atomic weights of the constituents of a molecule; thus, the molecular weight of water (H2O) is 18. <-- now, compared with carbon-12 as standard -->

 

© Webster 1913.