monatomic

(adjective)

a substance consisting of a single atom (not molecules of the element); examples include the noble gases and many metals

Related Terms

  • Photochemical smog
  • volatile
  • reactivity
  • noble gas
  • inert
  • valence electrons

(adjective)

Of an element, consisting of a single atom in the molecule; for example: the noble gases. Note: strictly speaking, a molecule has at least two atoms.

Related Terms

  • Photochemical smog
  • volatile
  • reactivity
  • noble gas
  • inert
  • valence electrons

Examples of monatomic in the following topics:

  • The Noble Gases (Group 18)

    • Noble gases are the six chemical elements of Group 18 of the periodic table, being monatomic and (with very limited exceptions) inert.
    • These gases all have similar properties under standard conditions: they are all odorless, colorless, monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity.
    • In the case of Neon (Ne), for example, both the n = 1 and n = 2 shells are complete and therefore it is a stable monatomic gas under ambient conditions.
    • They are all monatomic gases under standard conditions, including those with larger atomic masses than many other elements that are solids under standard conditions.
  • Photochemical Smog

    • Ultraviolet light can split nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide and monatomic oxygen; this monatomic oxygen can then react with oxygen gas to form ozone.
  • Polar Ozone Holes

    • Ultraviolet light splits oxygen gas (O2) to form monatomic oxygen (O) that can react with additional oxygen gas molecules to form ozone (O3).
    • The ozone produced can then go on to react with monatomic oxygen and re-form oxygen gas.
  • Electron Configuration of Cations and Anions

    • Monatomic ions are formed by the addition or removal of electrons from an atom's valence shell.
    • The two notations are therefore exchangeable for monatomic ions, but the Roman numerals cannot be applied to polyatomic ions.
  • Salts that Produce Basic Solutions

    • The component ions in a salt can be inorganic; examples include chloride (Cl−), the organic acetate (CH3COO−), and monatomic fluoride (F−), as well as polyatomic ions such as sulfate (SO42−).
  • Substances that Exist as Gases

    • The group VIII elements (helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe) and radon (Rn)) exist as monatomic gases at standard temperature and pressure (STP) and are called the noble gases.
    • These gases, when grouped together with the monatomic noble gases are called "elemental gases. "
  • Formulas of Ionic Compounds

    • When creating ionic compounds with these polyatomic ions, treat them the same way as typical monatomic ions (only one atom).
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