2007-01-04 11:32:25 · 4 answers · asked by I ♥ me 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because electrons repel each other, being far away is the least energy state. Atoms want to be in a low energy state because its either efficient or more stable or both energywise. Here's an analogy: a ball thrown into the air falls because it wants to reduce its energy, its potential energy goes down, if it didn't fall it would take a lot of energy to keep it up there.
umm... Bea S your answer isn't neccesarily true, electrons exhibit wavelike behavior, where they are depends on their specific energy states (see quantum numbers), your answer is way too generalized, read about the experiments involving electrons.
2007-01-04 11:44:45 · answer #1 · answered by obiwan k 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
electrons are negatively charged. Two negatively charged things repel each other. In an atom, the electron is attracted to the positive charge of the protons (ie. the center), but is repelled by the negative charge of the other electrons. At the spot where the attractions and repulsion cancel out, that is were the electrons is.
2007-01-04 19:37:46 · answer #2 · answered by Bea S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer lies in the fact that the electrons have an electrical charge. Does this make them act like magnets with respect to each other?
Knowing this may enable you to come up with the answer.
2007-01-04 19:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by Ed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's basically due to the repulsion b/w the electrons.
I hope this helps!!
2007-01-04 19:42:03 · answer #4 · answered by smart-crazy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋