Why do atoms of Cholrine and Oxygen form Cl2 and O2? Why cant chlorine gain just one more electron and attain noble gas configuration?

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Solution

Cl is chlorine atom. While Cl₂ is a chlorine molecule.Similarly O is an oxygen atom and O₂ is a molecule.
Atom in it's ground state electronic configuration is most stable. To gain an electron ,energy required is high i.e known as electron gain enthalpy.Thus it is not easy for any atom to gain an electron and convert to noble gas configuration.

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