Chemical Bonds and Stability

A mutual electrical attraction between the nuclei and valence electrons of different atoms that binds the atoms together

The electrons involved in the formation of a chemical bond

In a chemical bond, the link between atoms results from the attraction between electrons and

As independent particles, atoms are at relatively high potential energy

Atoms are ______ when they are combined.

Atoms naturally move toward low potential energy

A chemical bond resulting from the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions

If two covalently bonded atoms are identical, the bond is

The electrical attraction of an atom for the electrons when atoms share electrons is called the atom's electronegativity.

A bond is called polar if the atoms that share electrons have an unequal attraction for the electrons.