Chapter 2, Problem 4SA

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The differences between atomic oxygen and molecular oxygen.

Introduction:

Atomic elements can exist with single atoms in nature in the form of their basic units, for example, $\text{He, Al, Mg, O}$ and so on. Molecular elements cannot exist in nature with single atoms in nature in the form of their basic units. For example: ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}{\text{, H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{, Cl}}_{\text{2}},$ and so on.

Oxygen is an essential constituent for all life forms on the Earth. Oxygen is colorless, tasteless and odorless, and is denoted by ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$. It contains a strong oxidizing agent and it is the third mostly found molecule in the universe.