MOLECULES: oxygen, O₂

(above) oxygen image # 1: oxygen molecules on a pale green background. This image is 500 x 500 pixels; the original image is 2048 x 2048 pixels.

(above) oxygen image # 2: picture showing oxygen molecules in a gas. This image is 500 x 500 pixels; the original image is 4000 x 4000 pixels.

EXPLANATION OF OXYGEN IMAGES

OXYGEN MOLECULE KEY:
• red spheres = oxygen (O) atoms drawn at approximately their covalent radius
• greenish bubble = "surface" of the molecule created from the individual van der Waals surface

Oxygen the gas: a reactive gas that is essential for life.

Oxygen Structure: oxygen consists of two oxygen atoms covalently linked. All of these images are pictures of highly simplified models.