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Why do atoms form compounds?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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12y ago

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Why do certain atoms combine to form a compound

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3y ago
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14y ago
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By combining in specific compounds, the total energy of the atoms involved is reduced. The greater this reduction in energy (between the free isolated atoms and the combined atoms in molecules), the more likely the atoms will combine.

they have a complete outer shell

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11y ago

There are many different ways atoms combine to form compounds and these differences lie in the attraction each atom has for other atoms. Im sure in class you have learned about noble gases. Atoms want to be like noble gases. They want to be stable. To be stable is to have lower energy.

You want to focus on valence electrons. The electrons in the outer shell. Generally, atoms want to have 8 valence electons. If oxygen has 6 valence electrons and needs to have two more to be stable and happy, oxygen will go after electrons of other atoms. So for example H2O water, oxygen will 'share' electrons with hydrogen in order to obtain 8 valence electrons (one valence electron is shared with each of the hydrogen atoms). Im not going to go into the details but hydrogen is also at its most stable state with a valence of two electrons (Hydrogen has one valence electron and then is helped out by sharing with oxygen).

Like I said above there are different ways atoms combine. Above I was speaking of covalent bonds where each atom has an attraction for the electrons of surrounding atoms.

To conclude, compounds always have fixed proportions of atoms. For example, there will always be two hydrogen for every one oxygen present in water. The compound that composes water is H2O.

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12y ago

Atoms or Molecules are continuly looking to find difforent bonds. Think of it like this, you have 1 hand. You are then trying to fill up that hand. So any bond you can find will do. If you bond with the smae atom then the bond can be eassily broken when something new and difforent comes in contract because then both atoms can find a new atom to hold hands with.

And that's sort of why and how atoms conbine.

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12y ago

elements combine together because,

  1. to utilize their acceptance and donating properties
  2. to form compounds
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12y ago

Atoms combine to form compounds by either sharing electrons ( in a covalent compound) or by exchanging electrons (in an ionic compound.)

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11y ago

Atoms often join together to form atoms so they can have a complete valence electron shell (a complete outer shell of electrons).

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12y ago

Atoms want to have a full outer shell

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13y ago

Atoms want to have a full outer shell.

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11y ago

to make its octet complete.

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Q: Why do atoms form compounds?
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Related questions

What do atoms fuse to form into?

Atoms can fuse together to form molecules or compounds.


What type of atoms form compounds?

Every type of atom can form compounds.


When compounds form what is one result of the atoms that bonded?

Atoms form molecules.


Is all matter made of compounds?

No. Substances are made of atoms. Some atoms combine with other atoms to form compounds.


What do atoms become to form compounds?

ions


What do linked atoms form in compounds?

Linked up atoms form matter called a compound


What can atoms of different elements form?

Chemical compounds


What is the basic building block of all the compounds?

The basic building block of all compounds is atoms. Compounds contain atoms of at least two different elements bonded to one another. Thus, atoms of elements are what form compounds.


What happens to most atoms when they combine with other atoms to form compounds?

they share electrons


When elements combine to form compounds do their change?

The chemical properties of atoms are significantly changed when they form compounds. When elements combine to form compounds it is called a chemical reaction. The compound is then a collection of molecules and each molecule has are still the same atoms as one started with, but the arrangement of the electrons in the atoms has changed.


When elements combine to form compounds their properties change?

The chemical properties of atoms are significantly changed when they form compounds. When elements combine to form compounds it is called a chemical reaction. The compound is then a collection of molecules and each molecule has are still the same atoms as one started with, but the arrangement of the electrons in the atoms has changed.


One reason that carbon atoms form large numbers of compounds is that a carbon atom forms?

One reason that carbon atoms can form large numbers of compounds is that a carbon atom forms four bonds in its compounds.