Some elements or compounds react vigorously. Why?
Answers
Explanation:
Why does each element only react with certain elements? What causes this? Why does carbon only react with some elements?
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You're basically right, its because of electrons. There are certain configurations of electrons that are stable, and others that aren't. The reasons for this are highly complex but the upshot is that atoms are generally most stable when they have eight electrons in their outer shell (except hydrogen, which is most stable with two).
Now atoms can reach stability in one of two ways. The first is that they can actually gain and lose electrons, this is most common for elements that are just one or two electrons from stability. For example, a sodium atom loses an electron, and becomes positively charged. A chlorine atom gains an electron to reach stability and become negatively charged, when they are so charged, they're called "ions". Positively and negatively charged ions are attracted to each other and stick together. Almost all ions will bond with each other to some degree or other.
The other method for stability is more complex. Some atoms will actually share their outer electrons in order to gain stability. Carbon is the classic example, it has four electrons in it's outer shell, and it needs eight. So, if hydrogen, for example, comes along, each hydrogen can share one electron, so if four hydrogen atoms get close enough, their electrons become part of the carbon's outer shell, giving it that magic eight. At the electrons from the carbon are shared with they hydrogen, giving each of them the two they need. This is called a covalent bond. In general, elements that tend to form covalent bonds will readily form them with one another, under the right circumstances. That's why you'll often see molecules incorporating carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. These elements all have electron configurations that easily form covelant bonds with one another, making it easy for them to react together.