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Why do atoms bond?

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Answered by GPT 3.5
Atoms bond together to become more stable. Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. The electrons are found in energy levels or shells around the nucleus of the atom.

Atoms want to have a full outer energy level because this arrangement is more stable. This can be achieved by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms. When atoms bond, they form chemical compounds.

There are different types of chemical bonds:

1. Ionic bonds: In ionic bonding, one atom transfers electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of positively charged ions and negatively charged ions. These oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other and form a bond. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium donates an electron to chlorine.

2. Covalent bonds: In covalent bonding, atoms share electrons to complete their outer energy levels. This occurs between nonmetals. For example, in a water molecule (H2O), oxygen shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms.

3. Metallic bonds: Metallic bonding occurs between metal atoms. The valence electrons in a metal are delocalized, meaning they are not associated with any particular atom. These delocalized electrons are free to move throughout the metal lattice, creating a strong bond.

In summary, atoms bond to achieve a more stable electron configuration by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms. This stability is achieved through the formation of ionic, covalent, or metallic bonds.

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