Question

In a class,a teacher asked students to write the molecular formula of oxygen Shamita wrote the formula as O2 and Priyanka as O. which one correct.State the reason

Answer 1

Answer given by Shamita is correct.The reason behind this is, for some elements , the shells are not filled completly which means they are not stable.Octet Rule states that for the 3 shells , electrons filled must be 2,8,8. But in oxygen , electronic configuration is : 2,8,7.To make the atom full and stable , two oxygen atoms must join to form stable.Thats the reason why we represent the oxygen as 02.

Answer 2

Shamita is correct and Priyanka is wrong because ‘O’ is the symbol of oxygen atom. ‘O₂’ is the formula of oxygen molecule. So the answer given by Shamitha is correct.