Final answer:
Atoms react with each other due to a chemical change, which involves the making and breaking of chemical bonds. These reactions are driven by various factors and are represented by balanced chemical equations. The rate and energy requirements of reactions can vary significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Atoms react with each other primarily due to a chemical change. A chemical reaction occurs when two or more atoms bond together to form molecules, or when bonded atoms are broken apart, forming new substances called products. These processes involve the making and breaking of chemical bonds, and they take place due to various factors, including the need to achieve a more stable electronic configuration or due to the input of energy, such as heat.
These reactions can be represented by chemical equations, which show the conversion of reactants to products. Chemical equations are balanced according to the law of conservation of mass, ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. It's important to note that reactions can vary widely in terms of how quickly they occur and whether they require external energy to proceed.