Diatomic molecules consist of two atoms, which can be of the same or different elements. In the case of elemental diatomic molecules, some elements naturally occur as diatomic forms. The primary group of elements that are found as diatomic molecules includes the halogens and some other nonmetals.
The most common diatomic molecules are:
- Hydrogen (H2)
- Nitrogen (N2)
- Oxygen (O2)
- Fluorine (F2)
- Chlorine (Cl2)
- Bromine (Br2)
- Iodine (I2)
These elements pair up with themselves to form diatomic molecules under standard conditions. For example, nitrogen in the atmosphere is found predominantly as N2, while oxygen exists as O2, which is critical for respiration in living organisms. The behavior and properties of these diatomic molecules greatly influence various chemical reactions and biological processes.