Individual Atoms not having Same Properties as Bulk Materials

Individual atoms do not exhibit the same properties as the bulk material they make. The properties of the bulk material are determined by interactions between atoms or molecules.
A sample of an element or compound consists of billions of atoms or molecules interacting with each other. These interactions shape the material’s macroscopic properties, which include colour, hardness, melting point, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity.
One germane example of this is gold. Individual gold atoms do not exhibit the property of being shiny or gold-coloured. Instead, the distinct gold colour and shine arise from the way the atoms interact in a large group.
Similarly, gases such as helium and neon are colourless and odourless as individual atoms, but when they are in a large group, they emit specific colours when stimulated, constituting the principle behind neon lights.
Another example is diamond and graphite, both of which are forms of carbon. Individual carbon atoms are neither hard and translucent like diamond nor soft and black like graphite. The differences in properties arise from the distinct ways the carbon atoms bond with each other in these two materials.
Atoms within a material are held together by different types of bonds, including covalent, ionic or metallic bonds. These bonds’ strengths and the arrangement of atoms significantly influence the material’s properties.
It is important to distinguish between the physical properties of individual atoms and those of bulk materials. Understanding this helps us to comprehend why materials behave the way they do and allows us to predict what might happen under different conditions.
Despite atoms not showing the same properties as bulk materials, the atomic structure and arrangement hugely influence the bulk material’s behaviour. Thus, understanding the atomic structure provides valuable insights into the bulk behaviour of materials.
The variation in properties between free atoms and bulk materials is a fundamental aspect of materials chemistry. This forms the basis for discovering, designing and developing new materials with desired properties for various applications.
In understanding this concept, you are also grasping the cornerstone for progressing towards studying complex materials and nanomaterials, which have properties distinct from their individual atoms and bulk counterparts.