Diatomic elements are a fascinating part of chemistry that many people come across during their studies. You may have come across them in high school chemistry classes– but even if you’re not familiar with these elements for their atomic properties, you’re definitely familiar with them from your everyday life! After all, where would we be without hydrogen and oxygen? Knowing and understanding what the 7 diatomic elements are is an important part of understanding how they impact our lives and the world around us.
What Is A Diatomic Element?
A diatomic element is an element that forms molecules consisting of two atoms bonded together. The term "diatomic" means "two atoms." These molecules exist in this form because it's the most stable configuration for the atoms. When these elements are not combined with others, they naturally form pairs. This unique behavior is seen in a specific set of nonmetal elements on the periodic table.
What Are The Seven Diatomic Elements?
The seven diatomic elements are hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I).
These seven elements are found in various locations on the periodic table. Hydrogen is in Group 1, and it’s essentially on its own. (Group 1 is Hydrogen and the Alkali Metals, and hydrogen behaves very differently than the rest of the group.) Nitrogen and oxygen are in Period 2 in Groups 15 and 16, respectively. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine are in Group 17, which is the halogen family, located in periods 2, 3, 4, and 5.
1. Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It's a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature and is the lightest element on the periodic table. Despite its simple structure, hydrogen plays a major role in many aspects of life and science.
You’ll often encounter hydrogen in water (H₂O), where it is bonded with oxygen. Another combination of hydrogen and oxygen, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), has numerous uses around the house. It is used extensively in industries, particularly in the production of ammonia for fertilizer and refining metals. Hydrogen also holds great promise for clean energy solutions, and hydrogen fuel cells are being further developed as an alternative fuel source.
2. Nitrogen
Nitrogen is another colorless, odorless gas at room temperature. In fact, about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, though we don’t notice it since it is mostly inert in this form. And it’s the fourth-most abundant element in the human body, after oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
Nitrogen is vital for life because it's a building block of amino acids, which make up proteins in living organisms. It’s used widely in agriculture in the form of fertilizers and is important in the manufacturing of explosives and nitric acid. Nitrogen gas is also used as a preservative for food packaging, as it helps to prevent spoilage by displacing oxygen, which can promote bacterial growth.
3. Oxygen
Oxygen is perhaps the most familiar diatomic element, as it's essential for human life. We breathe oxygen, and it's a major component of the water we drink. As a gas, oxygen is colorless, but it forms a pale blue liquid when cooled to very low temperatures.
Oxygen is highly reactive and plays a role in combustion, respiration, and oxidation processes. It’s used in medical treatments to help people with respiratory issues and is an important part of various industrial processes such as steelmaking and chemical production. Without oxygen, fires wouldn’t burn, and life as we know it would cease to exist.
4. Fluorine
Fluorine is a pale yellow gas and the most reactive of all the diatomic elements. (Handle this one with care!) This element is highly electronegative, meaning it has a strong tendency to attract electrons. It’s rarely found in its pure form because it reacts so readily with other elements and compounds.
Fluorine is commonly used in the production of toothpaste and water fluoridation to help prevent dental cavities. It's also used in the manufacturing of Teflon, the nonstick coating found on many cookware products.
5. Chlorine
Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a strong, pungent smell. It’s a powerful disinfectant, and you’re probably most familiar with it as the chemical used to sanitize swimming pools. Chlorine is widely used in water treatment plants to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. It’s also essential in the production of household cleaning products and is a key component in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic used in construction, plumbing, and electrical cable insulation.
6. Bromine
Bromine is unique among the diatomic elements because it exists as a reddish-brown liquid at room temperature. It is the only nonmetallic element that is liquid under normal conditions. Like chlorine, bromine has strong disinfectant properties and can be used to purify water, though it's more commonly found in the production of fire extinguishers and in materials designed to prevent the spread of fire. Bromine is also used in some photography chemicals and in certain medications as a sedative.
7. Iodine
Iodine is a shiny, purple-black solid at room temperature, though it sublimates easily, meaning it turns into a violet gas without first becoming liquid. In everyday life, iodine is often associated with nutrition and health. Iodized salt is a common dietary source of iodine, which is essential for thyroid function. Iodine is used as a disinfectant for cuts and wounds, and its radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging and cancer treatments. Iodine is also a reliable chemical clock when paired with starch.
Why You Should Know What The 7 Diatomic Elements Are
Understanding what the 7 diatomic elements are gives you insight into the natural world and how elements behave in their pure forms. These elements are key to many processes that keep life going, from the air we breathe to the food we grow. By learning more about diatomic elements, you gain a clearer picture of the chemical building blocks of our world. Whether you’re curious about how water is formed, how fertilizers boost plant growth, or why certain disinfectants work, knowing these elements is the first step in understanding the broader principles of chemistry.
If you’re interested in exploring these elements hands-on, check out Engineered Labs' element cubes and Quantum STEM set. Our massive experiment kit provides a fun way to understand several of the diatomic elements in action and see their properties up close.