The chemical reactivity of an atom is determined by the number of ___ present.
a) proton
b) neutron
c) electron
could be multiple answers.
protons
The chemical reactivity of an atom is primarily determined by the number of electrons present. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom and are involved in chemical bonding. The arrangement of electrons in an atom's outermost energy level, or valence shell, plays a crucial role in determining the atom's reactivity.
Atoms with incomplete valence shells tend to be more reactive as they seek to either gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. The number of valence electrons an atom possesses determines its ability to form chemical bonds with other atoms.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
c) electron