Diatomic molecule


Diatomic molecules are molecules formed of two atoms, of the same or different chemical elements. The prefix di- means two in Greek. Diatomic elements are those that almost exclusively exist as diatomic molecules, known as homonuclear diatomic molecules in their natural elemental state when they are not chemically bonded with other elements. Examples include H<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub>. Earth's atmosphere is composed almost completely (99%) of diatomic molecules which are oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) (21%) and nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) (78%). The remaining 1% is predominantly argon (0.9340%)