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Fresh oxygen is always in atomic state ( element form) but oxygen is a highly reactive element so it quickly combines with another oxygen atom to form a molecule consisting of two oxygen atoms.

Oxygen has 6 electrons in its outer most shell, so it required 2 electrons to get an octet so it shares 2 electrons with another oxygen atom and forms a double covalent bond.

O = O ---- O2

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Q: How can oxygen be both an element and a molecule?
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Is oxygen a molecule or an atom?

oxygen is an element on the Periodic Table of elements. This means that oxygen is an atom which could bond with another element covalently to form a molecule


How many different elements are in a oxygen molecule?

Oxygen is an element in its own right, so it only contains one element: oxygen.


What does molecule of an element mean?

A molecule of an element is a molecule made up of the same substance that can exist as an atom; for example, oxygen as O2.


Why is ozone not an element?

Ozone is not an element. It is a molecules. The molecule of ozone is formed by the combination of three oxygen atoms(where oxygen is an element).


How can oxygen be both element and a molecule?

Fresh oxygen is always in atomic state ( element form) but oxygen is a highly reactive element so it quickly combines with another oxygen atom to form a molecule consisting of two oxygen atoms. Oxygen has 6 electrons in its outer most shell, so it required 2 electrons to get an octet so it shares 2 electrons with another oxygen atom and forms a double covalent bond. O = O ---- O2

Related questions

Is oxygen is element or compound?

Oxygen is both a compound and an element. In nature, Oxygen forms bonds with itself to form a compound consisting of two elemental oxygen atoms to form one compounded oxygen molecule. This is O2.


Atoms in a molecule of oxygen?

Oxygen is an element. The oxygen in our atmosphere typically combines with itself, as does the nitrogen, forming a diatomic molecule--O2. So the two atoms in a molecule of oxygen would both be oxygen atoms.


Is oxygen a molecule or an atom?

oxygen is an element on the Periodic Table of elements. This means that oxygen is an atom which could bond with another element covalently to form a molecule


How many different elements are in a oxygen molecule?

Oxygen is an element in its own right, so it only contains one element: oxygen.


Is ozone an element a mixture or a compound?

O3 is a molecule / compound, not element


How can oxygen be a molecule it has just two oxygen atoms?

Two or more atoms of similar or different types combine to form a molecule. So, a combination of two atoms of oxygen is a molecule and not an atom. Oxygen is the name for both an element and a molecule. The molecule contains two atoms with a molecular fromula, O2 and is a gas at room temperature. The element oxygen or O is unstable and highly reactive. It is formed only briefly in some reactions.


Can a element be a molecule?

Yes; for example, two oxygen atoms combine to form an oxygen molecule.


What are the oxygen elements?

Oxygen is a chemical element; the molecule is diatomic.


What does molecule of an element mean?

A molecule of an element is a molecule made up of the same substance that can exist as an atom; for example, oxygen as O2.


Why is ozone not an element?

Ozone is not an element. It is a molecules. The molecule of ozone is formed by the combination of three oxygen atoms(where oxygen is an element).


Is an ozone an element?

Not in and of itself. Ozone is a form, or allotrope, of the element oxygen.


What are all of the atoms in oxygen?

Only oxygen, since it is an element. An oxygen molecule is O2.