What Are Stable Electrons?

Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the proton and nucleus within an atom. Electron particles balance the positive charge given off by a proton and they are responsible for forming many different types of chemical bonds. Most atoms have electrons that are trying to become stable through a valence or bonding process. They perform this procedure through electrovalent or covalent bonding. Once they obtain the right amount of electrons, atoms are considered stable or balanced.

Ions

• Ions are atoms that have too many or too few electrons. Ions are also electrically charged and they can either trade electrons or form a bond with other atoms (ions) to stabilize their number of electrons. When an atom has the same number of electrons that is equal to its atomic number this is called a neutral (or normal) atom and they do not form bonds with other atoms since they do have a charge.

Electrovalent Bonding

• Electrovalent bonding involves the transfer of an electron from one atom to another atom and when this process occurs both atoms become ions. Ionic bonding is another name for electrovalent bonding and these bonds are held together by electric forces. Groups of charged ions make up electrovalent bonds and they're also known as agglomerates. Once electrovalent bonds within an atom come into contact with other ions they become weaker because of outside electrical forces.

Covalent Bonding

• Covalent bonding occurs when two or more ions share the same electrons and these electrons are attracted to the nucleuses of both atoms. Ions that are involved in the process of covalent bonding don't completely gain or lose electrons that are being shared with the other atoms. There are two forms of covalent bonding: nonpolar bonding with an equal sharing of electrons and polar bonding with an unequal sharing of electrons.

Compounds and Bonds

• Atoms must have stability before they can form various compounds and substances that are found within the material world. Atoms form elements and elements make up matter. When these elements come together they lose their individual characteristics and form new compounds that do not have the same qualities as individual elements. Ionic bonds are important for keeping material together and many compounds are made up of a combination of bonds where the electrons remain stable.