I apologize in advance for my ignorance ...trying to self-teach myself chemistry....anyway, here it goes:
If solid mercury (II) oxide is written HgO, then why is the balanced equation 2HgO
![right arrow :rarrow:](https://www.chemicalforums.com/Smileys/classic/rarrow.png)
2Hg + O
2 ?
Why cant it just be HgO
![right arrow :rarrow:](https://www.chemicalforums.com/Smileys/classic/rarrow.png)
Hg + O...is it because oxygen is diatomic? HgO has a single atom of each in the compound correct?