Question

What is meant by an element cannot exist independently but a molecule can exist independently?​

Answer 1

Answer:

It means that some elements in our environment cannot exist alone. they have to get stability to live freely so they live as a molecule.

Look down for explanation............

Explanation:

Let us consider an element Oxygen; it cannot live alone as a single element. To get stability it makes a bond with another Oxygen element and lives as O2 in physical environment. Hence we get Oxygen molecule.

Note - metallic elements and noble gases  do not exist as a molecule.

Hope It Helps.............

Answer 2

Not all elements are stable in nature. Most of the elements have octets that are not filled (except for noble gases), and so the atoms will react rapidly with other substances, if left in the open. Whereas in the case of molecules, they give- take, or share electrons to have octet electron position. This makes each molecule chemically stable and unreactive and thus, they can exist in nature independently.