What are diatomic elements?

Question

anonymous · Answer

@aaronq maybe you can help me please?

aaronq · Answer

di- is a prefix (from latin, i think) meaning 2

so diatomic means 2 atoms, a diatomic atom is, by definition, an oxymoron, it should read diatomic molecule. examples could be oxygen gas which is O2 or hydrogen gas H2.

anonymous · Answer

so everywhere where the diatomic elements are used you always have to have 2 next to them?

aaronq · Answer

no, you misunderstood. A diatomic element doesn't exist, because an element is an atom, by definition, and there aren't any 2 atom elements are there?
 
I think the wording is confusing you. An element is a sole atom (one atom), not bound to any other atom. 
A MOLECULE, is 2 or more atoms bound together through some kind of bond.
So, a diatomic molecule is a molecule made up of 2 atoms or more (a triatomic molecule would be made up of 3 atoms.. tetraatomic made of 4 etc.).

so an example of a diatomic molecule would be H2 or O2, or any molecule made of 2 atoms.

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