[Campbell Biology P.77] According to the provided text, what atomic characteristic primaril... | Practice Question

According to the provided text, what atomic characteristic primarily determines an atom's ability to form chemical bonds, and how many bonds can an oxygen atom typically form?

  • A: The number of protons; 8 bonds.
  • B: The electron distribution; 2 bonds.
  • C: The mass number; 4 bonds.
  • D: The total number of electrons; 6 bonds.

Explanation

The text states: 'An atom's electron e- distribution determines its ability to form bonds. Oxygen has space for 2 more electrons, so it can form 2 bonds.'