Final answer:
Diatomic molecules are forms of certain elements that consist of two atoms. These include hydrogen (H₂), oxygen (O₂), nitrogen (N₂), fluorine (F₂), chlorine (Cl₂), bromine (Br₂), and iodine (I₂). Their molecular formulas reflect this diatomic nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most elements are found in nature as individual atoms, but some exist as diatomic molecules, which are molecules consisting of two atoms. The elements that exist naturally as diatomic molecules are hydrogen (H₂), oxygen (O₂), nitrogen (N₂), fluorine (F₂), chlorine (Cl₂), bromine (Br₂), and iodine (I₂). These diatomic molecules are represented with molecular formulas that indicate two atoms are joined, for example, the molecular formula for elemental hydrogen is H₂, indicating two hydrogen atoms are bonded together to form the molecule.
It's also interesting to note that some elements can form polyatomic molecules, such as sulfur which typically exists as an eight-atom molecule (S₈), while phosphorus exists as a four-atom molecule (P₄). In their elemental forms, these diatomic and polyatomic molecules represent the most stable and commonly occurring form of these elements under standard conditions.