QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
Explain why oxygen gas must be written as O^2 in a chemical equation.
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Answer
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Step 1:
To understand why oxygen gas is written as O^2 in a chemical equation, it is essential to know that oxygen is a diatomic molecule. This means that one molecule of oxygen consists of two oxygen atoms chemically bonded together.
Step 2:
In a chemical equation, we represent the actual number of atoms of each element involved in a reaction. Therefore, when writing an equation for a reaction involving oxygen, we need to account for the fact that each oxygen atom exists as part of an O^2 molecule.
Final Answer
Oxygen gas is written as O^2 in a chemical equation because oxygen exists as a diatomic molecule, with two oxygen atoms chemically bonded together. This notation ensures that chemical equations accurately represent the actual number of atoms of each element involved in a reaction.
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