Diatomic Molecules

There are hundreds of diatomic molecules. This is a list of diatomic molecules, including diatomic elements and diatomic chemical compounds.

Mononuclear Diatomic Molecules

Some of these molecules consist of one element or are diatomic elements. Diatomic elements are examples of homonuclear molecules, where all of the atoms in the molecule are the same.

Hydrogen (H₂)
Nitrogen (N₂)
Oxygen (O₂)
Fluorine (F₂)
Chlorine (Cl₂)
Iodine (I₂)
Bromine (Br₂)

Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules

Many other diatomic molecules consist of two elements. In fact, most elements form diatomic molecules, particularly at higher temperatures. Past a certain temperature, however, all molecules break into their constituent atoms. The noble gases do not form diatomic molecules. Diatomic molecules consisting of two different elements are called heteronuclear molecules. Here are some heteronuclear diatomic molecules:

CO
NO
MgO
HCl
KBr
HF
SiO

Diatomic Molecule Geometry

All diatomic molecules have linear geometry. There isn't any other possible geometry because connecting a pair of objects necessarily produces a line.