An atom is always smaller than a molecule. Here’s why:
An atom is the fundamental building block of matter. It’s the smallest unit that retains the properties of an element. It consists of a tiny, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cloud of even smaller, negatively charged electrons.
A molecule is formed when two or more atoms bond together. This means they share or transfer electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration. While the exact size of a molecule depends on the atoms involved and the type of bond, it will always be larger than an individual atom due to the combined volume of the bonded atoms.