Question

An __________ of oxygen does not exist independently.

Answer 1

Atom: An atom is the smallest unit of an element that has all the properties of the element.

• It consists of sub-atomic particles, i.e., protons, neutrons, and electrons. For example,$\mathrm{Oxygen}\left(\mathrm{O}\right)\mathrm{atom}.$

Molecule: A molecule is formed when two or more atoms of the same element or different elements are combined in whole numbers. For example, $\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{gas}\left({\mathrm{O}}_2\right).$

• Atoms of noble gases like $\mathrm{Argon}\left(\mathrm{Ar}\right)\mathrm{and}\mathrm{Neon}\left(\mathrm{Ne}\right)$, that have a stable octet electronic configuration, and it can exist independently.
• Other atoms like oxygen cannot exist independently as they do not have stable electron configurations.
• So, they bond with other atoms to form molecules of ${\mathrm{O}}_2.$

Thus, An atom of oxygen does not exist independently.