How do atoms form a new substance?
Responses
by sharing electrons with each other
by sharing electrons with each other
by gaining electrons from each other
by gaining electrons from each other
by losing neutrons to each other
by losing neutrons to each other
by losing electrons
to each other
Atoms can form a new substance by sharing electrons with each other, gaining electrons from each other, or by losing electrons.
Atoms form a new substance through a process called chemical reactions. One of the ways atoms can form new substances is by sharing or transferring electrons with each other. This is known as bonding. There are three main types of chemical bonds: covalent, ionic, and metallic.
Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. In this type of bonding, atoms can share one or more pairs of electrons, resulting in the formation of molecules. Sharing electrons allows atoms to fill their outermost energy levels, making them more stable.
Ionic bonds are formed when atoms gain or lose electrons to achieve a full outer shell configuration. In this type of bonding, one atom donates one or more electrons to another atom, creating positively and negatively charged ions. The positively charged ion is known as a cation, and the negatively charged ion is called an anion. These oppositely charged ions attract each other and form an ionic compound.
Metallic bonds are formed between metal atoms. In metals, the outermost electrons are not strongly held by individual atoms and can move freely throughout the structure. The shared movement of electrons creates a "sea" of electrons that holds the metal atoms together, forming metallic bonds.
It is important to note that while electrons are commonly involved in bonding, other particles such as neutrons are not directly involved in the formation of new substances. Neutrons play a role in stabilizing the atomic nucleus but do not participate in chemical reactions or bond formation.