The existence of Oxygen as a diatomic element is as a result of the presence of 6 Valence electrons and as such, there's a need for a second atom in a bid to donate 2 electrons each in a covalent bond.
Oxygen, O2 is a diatomic element.
The element, Oxygen with atomic number 8, mass number 16 and electron configuration:
exists as a diatomic element.
The reason for this is because an Oxygen atom has 6 Valence electrons.
As such, it is 2 electrons short of it's octet state which requires 8 electrons.
This phenomenon above is therefore the reason why two oxygen atoms come together in a bid to share 2 out their six Valence electrons so that each atom attains an octet state.
Ultimately, the element Oxygen is a diatomic element and exists as O2.
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