If all atoms wants to be stable and forming molecules is their way of doing so, why isn’t the universe just a big batch of playdoh?

Question

Not sure if this is chemistry or physics so I’m flairing it as ‘Other’.

In: Physics

Answer 1

all atoms aren’t stable. that’s exactly what happens when something radioactively decays, the atom splits and forms a new element. forming new molecules often releases or absorbs energy as well.