Final answer:
Nine elements naturally exist as diatomic molecules at room temperature: hydrogen (H₂), nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), fluorine (F₂), chlorine (Cl₂), bromine (Br₂), and iodine (I₂). These include two nonmetals, hydrogen and nitrogen, as well as the halogens fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diatomic molecules that naturally exist at room temperature are hydrogen (H₂), nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), fluorine (F₂), chlorine (Cl₂), bromine (Br₂), and iodine (I₂). These elements are unique in that they prefer to bond with themselves to form molecules consisting of two atoms, hence the term 'diatomic'.
The halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, are among these diatomic molecules and are well known for being very reactive due to their relatively low bond energies, which allow them to readily interact with other substances.