What happens when an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom?
A. The two atoms form a mixture.
B. A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
C. A chemical compound splits into separate elements.
D. The two atoms combine to create an element
The correct answer is B. A chemical bond forms between the two atoms.
When an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom, it is typically referred to as an "electron transfer." This process occurs between atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration, usually by filling or emptying their valence shell.
To get this answer, you need to understand the concept of valence electrons and chemical bonding. Valence electrons are the electrons found in the outermost energy level of an atom and play a crucial role in chemical bonding.
Atoms can form chemical bonds with other atoms by either gaining, losing, or sharing valence electrons. In the case of an atom giving up loosely held valence electrons to another atom, it means that it is losing those electrons.
By losing valence electrons, an atom becomes positively charged, forming a positively charged ion or cation. Simultaneously, the atom that accepts the electrons becomes negatively charged, forming a negatively charged ion or anion.
These oppositely charged ions are then attracted to each other due to the electrostatic force, resulting in the formation of a chemical bond. This bond is usually referred to as an ionic bond and is formed between a metal and a non-metal atom.
So, when an atom gives up loosely held valence electrons to another atom, a chemical bond forms between the two atoms, as indicated in option B.
Google ionic chemical bond
eg: NaCl table salt