Lesson 6 Molecular Compounds - Naming and Formulas
Completion requirements
Molecular Elements
Did you know that oxygen is not a single atom but a molecule of two oxygen atoms bonded together?
You may have noticed that some of the examples of molecules contained just atoms of one element. These are molecular elements. Molecular elements are formed by non-metals when a more stable electron configuration can be achieved by two or more atoms
sharing electrons to attain an octet. There are seven common diatoms that you must memorize!
B6.2 Nurse adjusting oxygen tank for a patient
This concept will become very important when writing balanced chemical reaction equations that you will learn about later in this unit.
In addition to diatoms, there are a few elements that can form molecules with more than two atoms; these are known as polyatomic elements (this is different than polyatomic ions).
In addition to diatoms, there are a few elements that can form molecules with more than two atoms; these are known as polyatomic elements (this is different than polyatomic ions).
| Monatomic elements |
C(s), noble gases, all metals |
| Diatomic elements | H2(g), N2(g), O2(g), F2(g), Cl2(g), Br2(l), I2(s) |
| Polyatomic elements | P4(s), S8(s) |
Did You Know?
“Di” means two (you may recall that “bi” also means two).“Poly” means many.
You need to memorize the seven diatomic elements. Luckily, the diatoms make an interesting pattern on the periodic table. Below are three techniques you can use to help you remember their locations.
- Envision a hockey puck and hockey stick.
- It makes the number “7,” and there are seven diatoms (H is located separately).
- The diatoms are the “gens”—hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and the halogens.
