Question

An atom that contains ten protons and ten electrons is likely to form covalent bonds with another atom. form ionic bonds with another atom. be chemically inert (stable).

Answer 1

An atom that contains ten protons and ten electrons is likely to form covalent bonds with another atom. Covalent bonds are formed when electrons are shared between atoms in order to complete the atom's valence shell.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atom that contains ten protons and ten electrons is likely to form covalent bonds with another atom. Covalent bonds are formed when electrons are shared between atoms. In this case, the atom will share electrons in order to complete its valence shell. The behavior of electrons within an atom's outermost electron shell, called the valence shell, largely determines the atom's tendency to be stable or to react with other atoms.

Answer 2

An atom that contains ten protons and ten electrons is likely to be chemically inert (stable).

Step-by-step explanation:

An atom has 10 electrons. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶. The last level gives us information about the period in which the element is and the sum of the electrons in the last level gives us information about the group in which the element is. This element belongs to the Period 2 and Group 2 + 6 = VIIIA (18). This group corresponds to noble gases so the element is expected to be chemically inert because its valence shell is complete with 8 electrons.