If oxygen in the air is O2 (since an oxygen atom has 6 electrons in the outer shell, it makes 2 double covalent bonds with another oxygen so that they’re both stable), why do oxygen molecules react with metals to form an oxide layer if O2 is stable? Its stable, so why react with anything?

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If oxygen in the air is O2 (since an oxygen atom has 6 electrons in the outer shell, it makes 2 double covalent bonds with another oxygen so that they’re both stable), why do oxygen molecules react with metals to form an oxide layer if O2 is stable? Its stable, so why react with anything?

In: Chemistry