Nitrogen and oxygen...periodic table

[E31Shrew]

OH , has to do a diving presentation and is getting confused , as I am, as to whether Nitrogen and Oxygen are shown with a small 2 as in O2 and N2...When do you use it just as an N and when would you add a 2....All a bit confusing on Wikipedia....What isnt!

[DrTre]

in the periodic table (of elements, not molecules) it's just N and O.
The mixture we all breathe comprises, partly, N2 and O2 molecules.

[pokethepope]

(note i have no knowledge of the subject) From what i can see the number refers to the O in different states/phases/colours/i dont know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_oxygen

[E31Shrew]

Brill....SO the part we breathe can rightly be described as N2 and O2? All a bit above me! Wish she liked cars instead of dressing in rubber and looking like an absolute pillock

[TheEnd]

N is the atom, but they always hang around in pairs, so actual physical Nitrogen is two N's stuck together.

The gas is N2, i'm should you could split it to N, but they'd recombine pretty quick.

[Engineer1]

N2 and O2 is the standard way of writing the gaseous form. If you are using the symbols to avoid writing too much then just use the symbol N and O

[E31Shrew]

Many thanks ....She's got it now!

[TheEnd]

E31Shrew said:

Wish she liked cars instead of dressing in rubber and looking like an absolute pillock

Haleluj..
Ah.. yes, the diving you mentioned earlier...


Carry on...

[fido]

Don't forget O3 = Ozone