Question

The chemical symbol OO means ________?

1) zero equals zero
2) both atoms are bonded and have zero electrons in the outer orbit
3) the atoms are double bonded
4) this is an ionic bond with two shared electrons

Answer 1

The symbol OO is a reference to the oxygen molecule (O=O), comprising two oxygen atoms double bonded to each other.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chemical symbol OO typically refers to the oxygen molecule, which consists of two oxygen atoms connected by a double covalent bond. An atom of oxygen has six electrons in its valence shell (outer orbit), and by sharing two pairs of electrons with another oxygen atom, it forms a double bond represented as O=O. This ensures both atoms achieve a stable electronic configuration resembling the noble gases, with eight electrons in the valence shell.

The first bond formed between two atoms is always a sigma (σ) bond, which is a single covalent bond involving the head-on overlap of atomic orbitals. In the case of a double bond, like in the oxygen molecule, there is one sigma bond and one pi (π) bond. The pi bond is formed by the side-to-side overlap of atomic orbitals, which is parallel to the sigma bond.

Therefore, the correct interpretation for OO or more accurately O=O, is that the atoms are double bonded, which is option 3 from the student's list.