Which factor primarily determines whether two atoms can form a chemical bond with each other?

• A. The color of the elements
• B. The number of neutrons in each atom
• C. The atomic mass of each atom
• D. The difference in their electronegativities

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical bonding occurs due to interactions between atoms' electrons, particularly their valence electrons.
2. Recognize that the number of neutrons or atomic mass does not directly influence bonding; these affect atomic stability and isotopes but not bond formation.
3. Recall that electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a bond.
4. Identify that the difference in electronegativities between two atoms determines the type and strength of the bond they can form (e.g., ionic, polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent).
5. Conclude that the primary factor determining whether two atoms can form a chemical bond is the difference in their electronegativities.