Why do atoms form molecules?

• A. To become electrically charged
• B. To achieve a more stable electron configuration by sharing or transferring electrons
• C. To increase their atomic mass
• D. To decrease their number of protons

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that atoms form molecules primarily to achieve greater stability in their electron configurations.
2. Recall that atoms tend to have full outer electron shells, which is a more stable arrangement known as the octet rule for many elements.
3. Atoms can achieve this stable configuration by either sharing electrons (covalent bonding) or transferring electrons (ionic bonding) with other atoms.
4. Recognize that forming molecules does not change the number of protons or directly affect atomic mass; instead, it affects electron arrangements.
5. Conclude that the driving force behind molecule formation is the attainment of a more stable electron configuration through electron sharing or transfer.