2006-10-29 12:38:30 · 3 answers · asked by bluedevilbabygirl 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A Lewis dot structure can be drawn showing a double bond to fulfill the octet rule- i.e. two electron pairs are shared.
However, the reality for diatomic oxygen is much more interesting. It turns out that diatomic oxygen has been found to have unpaired electrons, so another way to represent diatomic oxygen is with a single bond (only one pair of unshared electrons), and then the rest in "lone pair" type orbitals, with each oxygen atom having a single electron in one of its lone pairs. The reasoning for this is related to the molecular orbitals that form, and Hund's rule that says the electrons are distributed in orbitals of equal energy rather than pairing in a single orbital.
2006-10-29 13:07:59 · answer #1 · answered by WildOtter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 - oxygen has 8 electrons, 6 in it's outer shell so they have to share two to be "happy." in other words, 8 electrons are needed to fill the outer shell of oxygen so each of the atoms in the molecule of diatomic oxygen shares an electron.
2006-10-29 20:42:30 · answer #2 · answered by WxEtte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 pairs for a total of 6 electrons
2006-10-29 20:41:48 · answer #3 · answered by cheezzznitz 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋