why does a single molecule of argon gas only contains 1 argon atom while other gases such as nitrogen contain 2 of their respective atoms?
In: Chemistry
Atoms have different numbers of electrons in “shells” around their central nucellus. The first shell has a maximum of 2 electrons, then every shell after that has a maximum of 8. When atoms come together to form molecules, they like to share electrons to form 8, that’s what makes for the most stable molecules. H2O (water) for example forms from two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom. Hydrogen atoms have 1 electron in their outer shell while oxygen has 6. So with 2 Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen, you’ve got 8, which forms a stable molecule.
Nitrogen has 5 outer electrons, so when a Nitrogen gas molecule forms, they share 3 electrons to reach 8.
Argon, (and the other noble gasses) already has 8 electrons in its outer shells. This makes it very hard for it to form bonds. Noble Gases are naturally very stable and don’t react much with other elements. Argon doesn’t need to be bonded to another element to be stable, it can do that all on its own.
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