The molecular geometry of oxygen (O2) is linear. This means that the two oxygen atoms are arranged in a straight line, with a bond angle of 180 degrees. The linear shape is due to the double bond between the two oxygen atoms, which consists of one sigma bond and one pi bond.
In the O2 molecule, each oxygen atom has six valence electrons. When these two atoms come together, they share two pairs of electrons, forming a double bond. The remaining four electrons on each oxygen atom are arranged in lone pairs. The linear geometry minimizes the repulsion between these lone pairs and the bonding pairs, resulting in a stable molecule.
This linear arrangement is a key characteristic of diatomic molecules like oxygen, where only two atoms are involved. Understanding the molecular geometry of oxygen is important in fields such as chemistry and environmental science, as it influences the molecule’s reactivity and interactions with other substances.