You're close, but there's a key misconception in your statement:

Chemical reactions DO NOT create new elements.

Here's the breakdown:

* Molecules: These are formed when two or more atoms bond together. They can be made up of the same type of atom (like O₂, oxygen gas) or different types of atoms (like H₂O, water).

* Chemical reactions: These involve the breaking and forming of bonds between atoms. The atoms themselves don't change, but they rearrange to form new molecules.

* Elements: Elements are the fundamental building blocks of matter. They are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means. Each element is defined by the number of protons in its atoms (its atomic number).

Example:

* In the reaction of hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) to form water (H₂O), the hydrogen and oxygen atoms don't change into different elements. They just rearrange their bonds to form a new molecule, water.

Changing Elements:

Changing elements requires nuclear reactions, not chemical reactions. Nuclear reactions involve changes within the atom's nucleus, which can alter the number of protons and therefore the element itself.

Here's an example:

* Nuclear fission: The splitting of a uranium atom into smaller atoms, releasing energy. This changes the uranium atom (a heavy element) into lighter elements like barium and krypton.

In summary:

* Chemical reactions involve rearranging atoms into new molecules, but they don't change the atoms themselves or create new elements.

* To change elements, you need nuclear reactions that affect the atom's nucleus.