Hydrogen (H) atoms have one electron and exist as diatomic (“two-atom”) molecules (H2). Helium atoms have two electrons and exist only as single helium atoms. Explain why hydrogen and helium differ in this way.
Answers
Answer:
cz hydrogen has 1 electron which is its valence electron and it need more one electron to be stable whereas helium has 2electron and its outermost shell is filled with the two electrons and its stable. Therefore hydrogen atom have one electron and it exist as diastolic and helium atoms have two electrons and exist only as single helium atom.
Answer: Hope this helps :)
Explanation: In a hydrogen atom, the first shell has only one electron, and is not fully occupied. So, a hydrogen atom can give an electron from its first shell or can take an electron for its first shell. Therefore, a hydrogen atom can interact with another hydrogen atom and form a molecule, in such a way that their electrons get shared and their first shells get occupied.
In a helium atom, the first shell has two electrons and is fully occupied. So, a helium atom cannot take any electron for the first shell, and would not tend to give away any electron. Therefore, the helium atom remains inert and does not form a molecule with other atoms.