The short form for oxygen is O2.
Oxygen, a vital element for life, is commonly represented by its chemical symbol. Here's a breakdown of what that looks like:
| Element | Chemical Symbol | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | O | Elemental Form (Atom) |
| Oxygen | O2 | Diatomic Form (Molecule) |
Understanding Oxygen's Short Form
The chemical symbol for oxygen is "O". However, oxygen doesn't usually exist as a single atom, O, on its own. Instead, it forms a diatomic molecule, meaning it bonds with another oxygen atom. This is why the common short form for oxygen is O2.
Key Points
- O: Represents a single atom of oxygen.
- O2: Represents a molecule of oxygen, composed of two oxygen atoms.
- The PubChem database confirms oxygen's molecular formula is O2 (CID 977).
In everyday contexts, when we refer to "oxygen," we generally mean the diatomic molecule, O2.
