.
What happens when an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom?
A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
The two atoms form a mixture.
A chemical compound splits into separate elements.
The two atoms combine to create an element.
A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
When an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom, a chemical bond forms between the two atoms. This process is known as electron transfer or ionic bonding, where one atom becomes positively charged (cation) by losing electrons, and the other atom becomes negatively charged (anion) by gaining those electrons. The transfer of electrons allows both atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration and creates an electrostatic attraction between them, resulting in the formation of a chemical bond. Therefore, the correct answer is: A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
When an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom, a chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
To understand why this happens, it's important to know that atoms are most stable when their outermost energy level (valence shell) is full of electrons. In order to achieve this stable state, atoms may either gain or lose valence electrons to complete their valence shells.
In this case, when an atom gives up its loosely held valence electrons, it becomes positively charged because it now has fewer negatively charged electrons compared to positively charged protons in its nucleus. This positively charged atom is called a cation.
On the other hand, the atom that accepts the valence electrons gains negatively charged electrons and becomes negatively charged. This negatively charged atom is called an anion.
The positive and negative charges attract each other, and these oppositely charged ions are then held together by an electrostatic force of attraction, resulting in the formation of a chemical bond.
Therefore, the correct answer is: A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.