If oxygen is "O", then what is "O"_2 ? | Socratic (2024)

As you say, #O#, is the oxygen atom....i.e. an atom that has 8 nuclear charges....and 8 electronic charges whizzing round the nuclear core. Oxygen is promiscuously reactive, and even in its unreacted state....the STABLE form is the oxygen molecule....i.e. #O_2#. Some punters (including me) even refer to #"dioxygen"# or #"dinitrogen"# to emphasize this condition.

And a simple VESPER treatment gives the electronic structure of dioxygen is...

#:stackrel(ddot)O=stackrel(ddot)O:#...i.e. this is conceived to derive from atomic....#2xx:ddotO:#, the which atom has SIX valence electrons…

With respect to dioxygen, molecular geometry is LINEAR....electronic geometry with respect to each atom is TRIGONAL PLANAR....