Why does the amount of protons in an element wildly change its properties? For example: why is two protons a gas, but suddenly three protons is a metallic solid?
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It has to do with the electrons those protons attract.
Electrons can only fit into specific stable arrangements around the nucleus. This can be thought of as giving the son a shape.
If the shape is another and round the atoms act as a gas. This is the Nobel gasses (helium argon etc).
Let’s look at hydrogen. It has one proton, and one electron. This electron gives the hydrogen a neutral charge, and shouldn’t attract anything else.
But the atom has size, and the electron can’t be all around it. So nearby electrons can occasionally “see” the proton when paired electron is on the other side.
This creates a lopsided “shape” and essentially a hole in the layer. A spot for any atoms with a “protruding” electron to snap into.
Is another hydrogen comes by and snaps it’s electric in we now have two electrons whizzing around. This did a better job of shielding the nucleus. And for two electrons, there isn’t room in the “shape” of the orbit they make for a third. So H2 doesn’t bond further, and kicks around as a gas stove it’s a small self contained system
And helium starts this way. It’s two electrons are attracted to it’s two protons, and fully shield the nucleus.
Lithium had 3 protons, and attracts a third electron that doesnt fit into the orbital shape. So now there is a smooth layer with a bump on it… A bump that attracts or is attracted to other atoms.
So stable gasses tend to have these complete smooth out layers made by plugging in other atoms to fill the holes. Solids tend to have many holes or protrusions that catch and latch, and of it can make a repeating pattern it’s when more likely to settle into solids.
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