Why does is have to be h2 or o2 for hydrogen and oxygen respecticely to exist?
2007-01-06 17:27:02 · 6 answers · asked by symperl 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A single hydrogen or oxygen atom could exist if were floating around in empty space. Their outer electrons make them very reactive so as soon as they encounter another atom they will try to combine. Another atom of the same type will do nicely.
Also in very high temperature situations like the interior of the sun individual atoms probably exist.
One use of this reactivity is the atomic hydrogen torch. This is not a nuclear device. Rather hydrogen is passed through a high voltage grid which energizes and splits the molecules. Almost immediately they recombine giving off a great deal of energy and producing a very high temperature. A jet of these recombining H atoms is directed at whatever one wants to cut, weld, or melt.
2007-01-06 17:46:49 · answer #1 · answered by rethinker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All atoms have what's called a valence electron level, which is the outer level of electrons. That valence level ALWAYS has to be full. Hydrogen and Oxygen do not have full valence electron levels, so they bond with each other, or whatever else is available that they could bond with, many times with other elements to fill their valence level.
2007-01-07 01:39:45 · answer #2 · answered by Ken G 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
H-1(s1)
O-1(s2)2(s2)3(p4)
2007-01-07 02:59:08 · answer #3 · answered by turk6060 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most compounds tend to complete their octet or duplet structure in free state H..H is the lewis structure of h2 nd is a covalent bond ::O::O:: is the structure of O2
2007-01-07 01:58:15 · answer #4 · answered by Akshay p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their outer electron levels are not full.
Hydrogen needs to share one electron.
Oxygen needs to share two electrons.
2007-01-07 01:33:09 · answer #5 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not question God's creations.
2007-01-07 01:28:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋