The chemical bonding behavior of an atom is directly determined by the
A) number of protons.
B) number of neutrons.
C) number and arrangement of electrons.
D) size of the atom.
E) mass of the atom.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chemical behavior of an atom is determined by the number and arrangement of its electrons. Electrons are involved in chemical bonding, and their arrangement in the outermost shell (valence shell) of an atom determines its chemical reactivity. Protons and neutrons only affect the atomic mass and stability. The size of an atom is determined by its electron cloud and is related to the number of electrons, but it does not determine the chemical bonding behavior. Mass is also related to the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but not to the chemical behavior.

The Chemical Bonding Behavior of an Atom Is Directly Determined