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diatomic

American  
[dahy-uh-tom-ik] / ˌdaɪ əˈtɒm ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.
  1. having two atoms in the molecule.

  2. containing two replaceable atoms or groups; binary.


diatomic British  
/ ˌdaɪætəˈmɪsɪtɪ, ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk /

adjective

    1. containing two atoms

    2. containing two characteristic groups or atoms

      ethylene glycol is a diatomic alcohol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • diatomicity noun

Etymology

Origin of diatomic

First recorded in 1865–70; di- 1 + atomic

Vocabulary lists containing diatomic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We have systemically addressed the challenges in electro-biomanufacturing by identifying the metabolic and biochemical limits of diatomic carbon use and have overcome these limits."

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

Because there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms and both elements are diatomic, there is twice the volume of hydrogen produced at the cathode as there is oxygen produced at the anode.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

A molecule of oxygen, O2, contains two oxygen atoms; the subscript 2 in the formula must be used to distinguish the diatomic molecule from two single oxygen atoms.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The noble gases are all monatomic, whereas the other nonmetal gases—hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and chlorine—normally exist as the diatomic molecules H2, N2, O2, F2, and Cl2.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

It is worthy of notice that in diatomic elements four funnels open on the faces of tetrahedra; in triatomic, six funnels on the faces of cubes; in tetratomic, eight funnels on the faces of octahedra.

From Occult Chemistry Clairvoyant Observations on the Chemical Elements by Sinnett, A. P.