Why are electrons and not protons and neutrons are involved in chemical reaction?

Answer 1

Chemistry is still very theortical, but, the actions of the electrons have actually been observed under observation with the electron microscope. The electrons are the "binding" forces when two atoms meet. The combination of atoms and molecules are the "stock and trade" of chemical reactions. It is an amazing thing to see. When you do lab experiments, you see....results. How it happens is 'theory', though you know it will happen every time. When you see the thing happen under the electron microsope,...you are more than a theorist.... you are a "believer".

Answer 2

Actually, the number of protons affects the chemical properties of an element (when not bonded with any different elements), as it defines how many electrons there are around that element.

Neutrons have NOTHING to do with the chemical properties of an element, as they do not alter how an element bonds at all.


The electrons, however, directly affect how an atom bonds to another atom, because they are what cause it to bond (by the orbitals), and thus the electrons directly affect the reactiveness of an atom.

Answer 3

Electrons are the small balls of energy that surround the nucleus. these electrons are stored on small rings circling the nucleus which are called valent shells. for a chemical reaction to happen, the atom needs to either give away or share electrons (this is called a covalent bond) or take away electrons (this is called an ionic bond). for instance, for the chemical reaction H2O to happen, oxygen need to gain 2 electrons. this will also make oxygen's outer shell full. to do this, he needs to find an atom to partner with. Hydrogen has only 1 electron, so it cannot give away an electron. therefore, 2 hydrogen atoms will pair up with oxygen, making oxygen's' outer shell full, and therefore creating the chemical reaction, H2O.

neutrons and protons cannot be used in a chemical reaction, as they cannot be removed or given away from an atom. Taking away a proton or a neutron would be like taking an atom or a leg of somebody. Atoms need them to maintain their molecular structure.

Answer 4

Electrons are the subatomic particles involved in chemical reactions because they are the ones that participate in forming chemical bonds between atoms. Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus of the atom and are much heavier than electrons, making them less likely to be involved in interactions during chemical reactions.