CBSE Class 10 Answered

Oxygen is a non-metal. An oxygen atom has 6 electrons in its outer shell. Oxygen is in group 6 of the periodic table. Two oxygen atoms will each share two electrons to form two covalent bonds and make an oxygen molecule (O₂).

By sharing the four electrons where the shells touch each oxygen atom can count 8 electrons in its outer shell. Two oxygen atoms achieve stable structures by sharing two pairs of electrons and the O₂ molecule will not (normally) react further with other oxygen atoms. Note the 2 pairs (4 electrons) shared between the atoms. Each electron pair is one bond. Oxygen has two bonds between its atoms. This is called a double bond.