Final answer:
Atoms are more stable when combined, as they form chemical bonds which result in a grouping that has lower potential energy and is less likely to react with other substances, demonstrating an increased level of stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Atoms are more stable when they are combined. This increase in stability comes from the fact that most atoms attain a lower potential energy state when they are bonded together compared to when they are isolated. Atoms link by forming chemical bonds, which can be a weak or strong electrical attraction that holds the atoms in proximity to each other. This new grouping is typically less likely to react with other substances than the separate component atoms because the bonded atoms have a lower energy level. The process of bond formation releases energy, often in the form of heat, and results in a molecule or chemical compound that has lower overall energy and greater stability.
The principal idea is that to achieve greater stability, atoms bond with other elements to complete their outermost shells, either by sharing, accepting, or donating electrons. Chemical compounds, like water (H₂O) or methane (CH₄), are examples of stable groupings of two or more different elements, while molecular hydrogen (H₂) is an example of atoms of the same element forming a molecule. The concept of bond energy, which involves the release of energy when atoms bond to form compounds, illustrates that bonded atoms are generally at a lower energy state, making them more stable than their individual, separated counterparts.