What elements exist as diatomic molecules?

Answer 1

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.

Let's put it this way - you can exclude all the metals (most elements), and all the noble gases. That doesn't leave you with much.

There are five elements that are halogens (flourine to astatine) and they all can share one electron to be diatomic. There are seven that are 'nonmetals', but of those only three are diatomic: hydrogen like the halogens can share its one electron, and only nitrogen and oxygen are electronegative enough to form multiple bonds with themselves to be diatomic (oxygen has a double bond and nitrogen a triple). Sulphur, carbon, and the other non-metals tend to form rings and chains instead!

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

The elements that exist as diatomic molecules are N2, nitrogen, O2, oxygen, H2, hydrogen, Cl2, chlorine, F2, fluorine, Br2, bromine, and I2, iodine. They all form compounds that are more stable than their elemental states. There are no diatomic molecules of an element that are more stable than their compounds formed by reacting with other elements.

Answer 3

Ametals exist as diatomic molecules. e.g. Hydrogen, oxygen

Answer 4

N2, H2, O2 and all the halogens...