Question

Why does oxygen occur as O2, and nitrogen as N2?

Answer 1

oxygen o2 or just O?

Snippet content

The molecule is O2 because it takes 2 O atoms to make a molecule of oxygen. These types of elements are called diatomic elements, because the element exists in its pure form as a molecule composed of 2 atoms of the element. ... Oxygen (O2)

And same goes for nitrogen.

Answer 2

hope it helps...and similarly for nitrogen