Is O2 a element?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether O2, which refers to molecular oxygen, is classified as an element. In chemistry, an element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances and is defined by the number of protons in its atoms. O2 is a molecule made up of two oxygen atoms, and while oxygen as an element is represented by the symbol O, O2 refers specifically to the diatomic form of oxygen found in nature.
Answer
O2 is a molecule.
O2 is not an element; it is a molecule composed of two oxygen atoms.
Answer for screen readers
O2 is not an element; it is a molecule composed of two oxygen atoms.
More Information
Oxygen is an element, but O2 is the molecular form of oxygen that consists of two oxygen atoms bound together.
Sources
- Oxygen | O (Element) - PubChem - pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Oxygen is a non-metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic mass 15.999 - Hamilton Company - hamiltoncompany.com
- Is O2 an element? Not strictly. O2 is a molecule consisting of two Oxygen atoms. It is referred to as diatomic Oxygen, and is the stable form - Quora - chemistrypoint4u.quora.com
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