Question

What are monoatomic and diatomic elements? I

Answer 1

in order to understand what is monatomic diatomic triatomic and polyatomic?

let's first understand what is atomicity?

Atomicity:- atomicity means the number of atoms present in a molecule of a single element is called atomicity.

example:- O2
the oxygen is mainly found in diatomic stage means its molecule contains two atoms of oxygen.So, the atomicity of O2 is 2.

hope you understand what is atomicity?

so let's discuss about monatomic and diatomic diatomic

Monotonic :- a molecule of an element which has the atomicity 1 or having only one atom in its molecule , is called monoatomic.

monoatomic are basically noble gases which means they can exist freely.
without reacting with another substances or element.

example:- like Ar, He, Ne are mono atomic all noble gases.
they can exist freely.

Diatomic :- a molecule of an element which has atomicity 2 or having 2 atoms in its molecule , is called diatomic.

example :- hydrogen , oxygen and nitrogen are diatomic.