Which of the following diatomic elements has a double bond between its atoms?

• A. Oxygen (O_2)
• B. Fluorine (F_2)
• C. Nitrogen (N_2)
• D. Hydrogen (H_2)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that diatomic molecules consist of two atoms bonded together, and the type of bond (single, double, or triple) depends on the number of shared electron pairs between the atoms.
2. Identify the common diatomic elements: Hydrogen (H_2), Nitrogen (N_2), Oxygen (O_2), and Fluorine (F_2).
3. Understand the typical bonding for each: Hydrogen forms a single bond (one shared pair), Nitrogen forms a triple bond (three shared pairs), Oxygen forms a double bond (two shared pairs), and Fluorine forms a single bond.
4. Focus on Oxygen (O_2), which has two pairs of electrons shared between the two oxygen atoms, resulting in a double bond.
5. Therefore, the diatomic element with a double bond between its atoms is Oxygen (O_2).