atom is becuase the total negative charge of all its orbitals is greater than the total charge of almost all other elements. ((While reactions are either a matter of gaining electrons or losing electrons, oxygen's strong charge causes it to accept or share electrons and therefore giving it a stong affinity for covalent bonds.))
Thanks,
Lisa
2007-09-05 16:38:04 · 2 answers · asked by Lisa 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Lisa, I hope you understand all that because I don't. At best, that's half the reason, the other half has to do with it being in the second period of elements.
2007-09-05 16:43:32 · answer #1 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It would be more accurate to say that the electrons in the valence band are less shielded from the nuclear charge than most other elements. This encourages them to not get lost, so they hang around and can pair spins with adjacent atoms.
2007-09-05 16:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋