How to get chemicals to bond?

Answer 1

Based on your question, you have probably noticed that just throwing two chemicals together does not mean that a bond will form. This fact is a good thing, because if every chemical or element that came in contact with another bonded, the world would be constantly reacting. In order for chemicals to bond, a reaction needs to take place. Without adding energy, a reaction will only take place if both compounds or elements will become more stable after the reaction. "Becoming more stable" means that they will both have a full octet of electrons, and a complete energy level.

If you look at a Periodic Table, group one elements have one valence (or outer energy shell) electron. In order to be stable it wants a full octet, so it will react with a group seven element so each element in the compound has a full octet. It does this by giving its electron to the group seven element, because it is far easier to lose one electron than it is to gain seven. There is much more that goes with this process, for example compounds that have more than two elements, but you get the general idea.