Why do atoms want to be stable?
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If an oxygen atom has six electrons, then it has an unfilled orbital and the oxygen atom may share electrons from two hydrogen atoms (and form water) in order to become more stable.
But why does oxygen, or any other atom for that manner, favor stability over instability? Why can't the oxygen atom just have six electrons and be done with it?
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
thermodynamics electrons atomic-physics equilibrium
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
If an oxygen atom has six electrons, then it has an unfilled orbital and the oxygen atom may share electrons from two hydrogen atoms (and form water) in order to become more stable.
But why does oxygen, or any other atom for that manner, favor stability over instability? Why can't the oxygen atom just have six electrons and be done with it?
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
thermodynamics electrons atomic-physics equilibrium
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4
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"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
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– Alexander
8 hours ago
2
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I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
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– rob♦
2 hours ago
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To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
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– Nat
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If an oxygen atom has six electrons, then it has an unfilled orbital and the oxygen atom may share electrons from two hydrogen atoms (and form water) in order to become more stable.
But why does oxygen, or any other atom for that manner, favor stability over instability? Why can't the oxygen atom just have six electrons and be done with it?
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
thermodynamics electrons atomic-physics equilibrium
$endgroup$
If an oxygen atom has six electrons, then it has an unfilled orbital and the oxygen atom may share electrons from two hydrogen atoms (and form water) in order to become more stable.
But why does oxygen, or any other atom for that manner, favor stability over instability? Why can't the oxygen atom just have six electrons and be done with it?
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
thermodynamics electrons atomic-physics equilibrium
thermodynamics electrons atomic-physics equilibrium
edited 9 hours ago
Qmechanic♦
104k121881195
104k121881195
asked 9 hours ago
KorvexiusKorvexius
312
312
4
$begingroup$
"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
$endgroup$
– rob♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
$endgroup$
– Nat
1 hour ago
add a comment |
4
$begingroup$
"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
$endgroup$
– rob♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
$endgroup$
– Nat
1 hour ago
4
4
$begingroup$
"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
8 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
$endgroup$
– rob♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
$endgroup$
– rob♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
$endgroup$
– Nat
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
$endgroup$
– Nat
1 hour ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
An $text{O}^{2+}$ ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time.
Similarly, you can have a high-elevation lake, and it can be absolutely stable if there is no path for water to drain out.
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
So no, as shown by that example, it is not the same thing.
However, of you have a higher-elevation lake and another one whose water level is 10 meters lower, and they're connected by a stream bed, then water will drain out of the higher one until the two surfaces reach an equal level. The stable state is the one that has the minimum energy (minimum total gravitational potential energy of all the water). This is analogous to what happens when oxygen and hydrogen are mixed. The electrons are like the water.
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$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
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> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wanting or favoring are not very good terms in physics. More scientific view on this would be that whenever an oxygen atom comes close to another atom, they interact and provided things are right (such as the number of electrons and their state), the atoms attract and can get closer, while losing part of their initial energy, in the form of radiation or lost electron or transfer some energy to other atom/molecule in a scattering event.
After the bonding energy is lost, it becomes more probable the system will stay together, until required energy for its breaking is supplied from outside. For the air in troposphere, the available mechanisms to supply so much energy (collisions, cosmic particles) can only do so for very little fraction of molecules, so majority of oxygen atoms will exist in pairs, much lower number in triplets and so on.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The oxygen atoms when get close to each other, would certainly interact. When they interact, their is a higher probability that the electrons are shared between the atoms. When they share, they will lose energy.
They will not break apart unless energy comes again from somewhere and satisfies them to stay separated.
And no being stable is not equal to being neutral. Take oxygen atom for example, it is more stable in the ion form than the neutral oxygen atom.
New contributor
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
No, not at all: many atoms are more stable after they've either absorbed (an) electron(s) or shed (an) electron(s).
A good example is the formation of table salt, $mathrm{NaCl}$, aka sodium chloride.
This compound forms when sodium atoms lose an electron (the valence electron), as in:
$$mathrm{Na}to mathrm{Na^+}+ mathrm{e^-}$$
Similarly the choride atoms can absorb an electron:
$$mathrm{Cl_2}+ 2mathrm{e^-}to 2mathrm{Cl^-}+ 2mathrm{e^-}$$
When those ions combine we get:
$$2mathrm{Na}+mathrm{Cl_2}to 2mathrm{NaCl}+Delta H$$
$Delta H$ is the energy released in the process. The arrangement of these elements in the ionic lattice $mathrm{NaCl}$ is more stable than the combination of the (unreacted) elements.
By losing its 'lone' $mathrm{3s^1}$ valence electron, sodium takes on the very stable electron configuration of neon. Similarly, by absorbing an electron into its $mathrm{3s^23p^5}$ valence electrons, it assumes the very stable electron configuration of argon.
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add a comment |
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4 Answers
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active
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
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active
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active
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$begingroup$
An $text{O}^{2+}$ ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time.
Similarly, you can have a high-elevation lake, and it can be absolutely stable if there is no path for water to drain out.
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
So no, as shown by that example, it is not the same thing.
However, of you have a higher-elevation lake and another one whose water level is 10 meters lower, and they're connected by a stream bed, then water will drain out of the higher one until the two surfaces reach an equal level. The stable state is the one that has the minimum energy (minimum total gravitational potential energy of all the water). This is analogous to what happens when oxygen and hydrogen are mixed. The electrons are like the water.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An $text{O}^{2+}$ ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time.
Similarly, you can have a high-elevation lake, and it can be absolutely stable if there is no path for water to drain out.
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
So no, as shown by that example, it is not the same thing.
However, of you have a higher-elevation lake and another one whose water level is 10 meters lower, and they're connected by a stream bed, then water will drain out of the higher one until the two surfaces reach an equal level. The stable state is the one that has the minimum energy (minimum total gravitational potential energy of all the water). This is analogous to what happens when oxygen and hydrogen are mixed. The electrons are like the water.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An $text{O}^{2+}$ ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time.
Similarly, you can have a high-elevation lake, and it can be absolutely stable if there is no path for water to drain out.
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
So no, as shown by that example, it is not the same thing.
However, of you have a higher-elevation lake and another one whose water level is 10 meters lower, and they're connected by a stream bed, then water will drain out of the higher one until the two surfaces reach an equal level. The stable state is the one that has the minimum energy (minimum total gravitational potential energy of all the water). This is analogous to what happens when oxygen and hydrogen are mixed. The electrons are like the water.
$endgroup$
An $text{O}^{2+}$ ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time.
Similarly, you can have a high-elevation lake, and it can be absolutely stable if there is no path for water to drain out.
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
So no, as shown by that example, it is not the same thing.
However, of you have a higher-elevation lake and another one whose water level is 10 meters lower, and they're connected by a stream bed, then water will drain out of the higher one until the two surfaces reach an equal level. The stable state is the one that has the minimum energy (minimum total gravitational potential energy of all the water). This is analogous to what happens when oxygen and hydrogen are mixed. The electrons are like the water.
answered 7 hours ago
Ben CrowellBen Crowell
50.4k6155298
50.4k6155298
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Ahh, so stability is basically the ability to maintain your properties in light of the environment, right?
$endgroup$
– Korvexius
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
> "An ion, with 6 electrons, is stable in a vacuum. If you put one in the depths of interstellar space, far from any other matter, then it will sit in that state until the end of time." That is not so clear cut. In empty vacuum yes, but in real one, there is background EM radiation everywhere that can break and separate molecule's/ion's constituents. This is easy to see from the fact that such isolated system has increasing density of energy levels to infinity when energy approaches 0.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wanting or favoring are not very good terms in physics. More scientific view on this would be that whenever an oxygen atom comes close to another atom, they interact and provided things are right (such as the number of electrons and their state), the atoms attract and can get closer, while losing part of their initial energy, in the form of radiation or lost electron or transfer some energy to other atom/molecule in a scattering event.
After the bonding energy is lost, it becomes more probable the system will stay together, until required energy for its breaking is supplied from outside. For the air in troposphere, the available mechanisms to supply so much energy (collisions, cosmic particles) can only do so for very little fraction of molecules, so majority of oxygen atoms will exist in pairs, much lower number in triplets and so on.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wanting or favoring are not very good terms in physics. More scientific view on this would be that whenever an oxygen atom comes close to another atom, they interact and provided things are right (such as the number of electrons and their state), the atoms attract and can get closer, while losing part of their initial energy, in the form of radiation or lost electron or transfer some energy to other atom/molecule in a scattering event.
After the bonding energy is lost, it becomes more probable the system will stay together, until required energy for its breaking is supplied from outside. For the air in troposphere, the available mechanisms to supply so much energy (collisions, cosmic particles) can only do so for very little fraction of molecules, so majority of oxygen atoms will exist in pairs, much lower number in triplets and so on.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wanting or favoring are not very good terms in physics. More scientific view on this would be that whenever an oxygen atom comes close to another atom, they interact and provided things are right (such as the number of electrons and their state), the atoms attract and can get closer, while losing part of their initial energy, in the form of radiation or lost electron or transfer some energy to other atom/molecule in a scattering event.
After the bonding energy is lost, it becomes more probable the system will stay together, until required energy for its breaking is supplied from outside. For the air in troposphere, the available mechanisms to supply so much energy (collisions, cosmic particles) can only do so for very little fraction of molecules, so majority of oxygen atoms will exist in pairs, much lower number in triplets and so on.
$endgroup$
Wanting or favoring are not very good terms in physics. More scientific view on this would be that whenever an oxygen atom comes close to another atom, they interact and provided things are right (such as the number of electrons and their state), the atoms attract and can get closer, while losing part of their initial energy, in the form of radiation or lost electron or transfer some energy to other atom/molecule in a scattering event.
After the bonding energy is lost, it becomes more probable the system will stay together, until required energy for its breaking is supplied from outside. For the air in troposphere, the available mechanisms to supply so much energy (collisions, cosmic particles) can only do so for very little fraction of molecules, so majority of oxygen atoms will exist in pairs, much lower number in triplets and so on.
answered 9 hours ago
Ján LalinskýJán Lalinský
14.9k1334
14.9k1334
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Good or not, “favoring” is a common term in physics, at least in English, and, particularly in the context of energy equilibria. We say that a reaction favors the lower-energy state. A search on this very site will find many examples. Here are just two: 1 2. A search of abstracts on arXiv finds many more examples.
$endgroup$
– MJD
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MJD common or not, I think it is not good to use it before explaining the science behind the phenomenon, especially to beginners, because it is likely to confuse them or induce bad thinking habits. For some other uses such as popularization or informal talk between scientists it may be fine.
$endgroup$
– Ján Lalinský
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The oxygen atoms when get close to each other, would certainly interact. When they interact, their is a higher probability that the electrons are shared between the atoms. When they share, they will lose energy.
They will not break apart unless energy comes again from somewhere and satisfies them to stay separated.
And no being stable is not equal to being neutral. Take oxygen atom for example, it is more stable in the ion form than the neutral oxygen atom.
New contributor
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The oxygen atoms when get close to each other, would certainly interact. When they interact, their is a higher probability that the electrons are shared between the atoms. When they share, they will lose energy.
They will not break apart unless energy comes again from somewhere and satisfies them to stay separated.
And no being stable is not equal to being neutral. Take oxygen atom for example, it is more stable in the ion form than the neutral oxygen atom.
New contributor
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The oxygen atoms when get close to each other, would certainly interact. When they interact, their is a higher probability that the electrons are shared between the atoms. When they share, they will lose energy.
They will not break apart unless energy comes again from somewhere and satisfies them to stay separated.
And no being stable is not equal to being neutral. Take oxygen atom for example, it is more stable in the ion form than the neutral oxygen atom.
New contributor
$endgroup$
The oxygen atoms when get close to each other, would certainly interact. When they interact, their is a higher probability that the electrons are shared between the atoms. When they share, they will lose energy.
They will not break apart unless energy comes again from somewhere and satisfies them to stay separated.
And no being stable is not equal to being neutral. Take oxygen atom for example, it is more stable in the ion form than the neutral oxygen atom.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 8 hours ago
NightcoRohakNightcoRohak
267
267
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
No, not at all: many atoms are more stable after they've either absorbed (an) electron(s) or shed (an) electron(s).
A good example is the formation of table salt, $mathrm{NaCl}$, aka sodium chloride.
This compound forms when sodium atoms lose an electron (the valence electron), as in:
$$mathrm{Na}to mathrm{Na^+}+ mathrm{e^-}$$
Similarly the choride atoms can absorb an electron:
$$mathrm{Cl_2}+ 2mathrm{e^-}to 2mathrm{Cl^-}+ 2mathrm{e^-}$$
When those ions combine we get:
$$2mathrm{Na}+mathrm{Cl_2}to 2mathrm{NaCl}+Delta H$$
$Delta H$ is the energy released in the process. The arrangement of these elements in the ionic lattice $mathrm{NaCl}$ is more stable than the combination of the (unreacted) elements.
By losing its 'lone' $mathrm{3s^1}$ valence electron, sodium takes on the very stable electron configuration of neon. Similarly, by absorbing an electron into its $mathrm{3s^23p^5}$ valence electrons, it assumes the very stable electron configuration of argon.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
No, not at all: many atoms are more stable after they've either absorbed (an) electron(s) or shed (an) electron(s).
A good example is the formation of table salt, $mathrm{NaCl}$, aka sodium chloride.
This compound forms when sodium atoms lose an electron (the valence electron), as in:
$$mathrm{Na}to mathrm{Na^+}+ mathrm{e^-}$$
Similarly the choride atoms can absorb an electron:
$$mathrm{Cl_2}+ 2mathrm{e^-}to 2mathrm{Cl^-}+ 2mathrm{e^-}$$
When those ions combine we get:
$$2mathrm{Na}+mathrm{Cl_2}to 2mathrm{NaCl}+Delta H$$
$Delta H$ is the energy released in the process. The arrangement of these elements in the ionic lattice $mathrm{NaCl}$ is more stable than the combination of the (unreacted) elements.
By losing its 'lone' $mathrm{3s^1}$ valence electron, sodium takes on the very stable electron configuration of neon. Similarly, by absorbing an electron into its $mathrm{3s^23p^5}$ valence electrons, it assumes the very stable electron configuration of argon.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
No, not at all: many atoms are more stable after they've either absorbed (an) electron(s) or shed (an) electron(s).
A good example is the formation of table salt, $mathrm{NaCl}$, aka sodium chloride.
This compound forms when sodium atoms lose an electron (the valence electron), as in:
$$mathrm{Na}to mathrm{Na^+}+ mathrm{e^-}$$
Similarly the choride atoms can absorb an electron:
$$mathrm{Cl_2}+ 2mathrm{e^-}to 2mathrm{Cl^-}+ 2mathrm{e^-}$$
When those ions combine we get:
$$2mathrm{Na}+mathrm{Cl_2}to 2mathrm{NaCl}+Delta H$$
$Delta H$ is the energy released in the process. The arrangement of these elements in the ionic lattice $mathrm{NaCl}$ is more stable than the combination of the (unreacted) elements.
By losing its 'lone' $mathrm{3s^1}$ valence electron, sodium takes on the very stable electron configuration of neon. Similarly, by absorbing an electron into its $mathrm{3s^23p^5}$ valence electrons, it assumes the very stable electron configuration of argon.
$endgroup$
Also, is an atom being stable identical to it being neutral?
No, not at all: many atoms are more stable after they've either absorbed (an) electron(s) or shed (an) electron(s).
A good example is the formation of table salt, $mathrm{NaCl}$, aka sodium chloride.
This compound forms when sodium atoms lose an electron (the valence electron), as in:
$$mathrm{Na}to mathrm{Na^+}+ mathrm{e^-}$$
Similarly the choride atoms can absorb an electron:
$$mathrm{Cl_2}+ 2mathrm{e^-}to 2mathrm{Cl^-}+ 2mathrm{e^-}$$
When those ions combine we get:
$$2mathrm{Na}+mathrm{Cl_2}to 2mathrm{NaCl}+Delta H$$
$Delta H$ is the energy released in the process. The arrangement of these elements in the ionic lattice $mathrm{NaCl}$ is more stable than the combination of the (unreacted) elements.
By losing its 'lone' $mathrm{3s^1}$ valence electron, sodium takes on the very stable electron configuration of neon. Similarly, by absorbing an electron into its $mathrm{3s^23p^5}$ valence electrons, it assumes the very stable electron configuration of argon.
edited 3 hours ago
Ry-
1094
1094
answered 8 hours ago
GertGert
17.7k32959
17.7k32959
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
$begingroup$
"Stable" means low energy configuration. The reason for this is that it is much easier (and faster) to lose energy to environment by interaction, than to get energy from it.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I've deleted an inappropriate comment and several responses to it. There was a possibly-salvageable discussion about whether it's appropriate to assign intent to inanimate objects; that discussion wants to happen in a chat room, rather than in these comments.
$endgroup$
– rob♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
To note it, water self-ionizes. That said, the concept of "stability" referenced here might need some untangling.
$endgroup$
– Nat
1 hour ago