Which type of force is primarily responsible for holding atoms together in a chemical bond?

• A. Electrostatic attraction between positive and negative charges
• B. Magnetic force between electron spins
• C. Gravitational force between atomic nuclei
• D. Nuclear force between protons and neutrons

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a chemical bond forms when atoms are held together by forces that involve their electrons and nuclei.
2. Recall that the primary force responsible for chemical bonding is the attraction between positively charged nuclei and negatively charged electrons.
3. Recognize that this attraction is an electrostatic force, which is the force between charged particles (opposite charges attract).
4. Eliminate other options: magnetic forces between electron spins are involved in magnetism but not the main bonding force; gravitational forces are negligible at atomic scales; nuclear forces act within the nucleus, not between atoms.
5. Conclude that the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative charges is the fundamental force holding atoms together in chemical bonds.