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Why is pure oxygen called O2 when oxygen is an element? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Exactly as the title asks.

Pure oxygen is generally represented as O2 yet oxygen is an element of the periodic table. Why is it O2 and not just O?

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[-] ricdeh@lemmy.world 51 points 2 years ago

Because O is not naturally accuring and only exists under extremely special conditions, so virtually all pure oxygen appears as molecular oxygen O2.

this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2023

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