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Question

Why every atom wants to become stable?

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Solution

Everything in this Universe wants to be stable, because a matter can only hold a finite amount of energy at a given temperature and pressure. Energy radiates to make a (radio active,hotter or denser) substance to make it in equilibrium with the surroundings. By the way an atom is a stable form of matter. Otherwise it is called an isotope or radioactive atom. Both will try to be in equilibrium to make sure that no energy is flown out.Isotopes combine with other atoms, while a radio active atom converts to any stable atom.

Atoms will react to get in the most stable state possible. A complete octet is very stable because all orbitals will be full. Atoms with greater stability have less energy, so a reaction that increases the stability of the atoms will release energy in the form of heat or light. Reactions that decrease stability must absorb energy, getting hotter.

The other tendency of atoms is to maintain a neutral charge. Only the noble gases (the elements on the right-most column of the periodic table) have zero charge with filled valence octets. All of the other elements have a charge when they have eight electrons all to themselves. The result of these two guiding principles is the explanation for much of the reactivity and bonding that is observed within atoms: atoms seek to share electrons in a way that minimizes charge while fulfilling an octet in the valence shell.


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