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## Chemical Bonds: Elements that do not readily participate in chemical processes are said to be inert. * A hydrogen atom has one electron in the first energy level, which is unfilled. * A hydrogen atom readily reacts with other atoms. * A helium atom has two electrons in its first energy level...

## Chemical Bonds: Elements that do not readily participate in chemical processes are said to be inert. * A hydrogen atom has one electron in the first energy level, which is unfilled. * A hydrogen atom readily reacts with other atoms. * A helium atom has two electrons in its first energy level. * Its outer energy level is filled, making it very stable and unreactive. * A lithium atom has three electrons. * Its first energy level can hold only two of them, so lithium has a single electron in a second, unfilled energy level. Therefore, it is reactive. * Neon has two energy levels: * The first is filled with a maximum of two electrons. * The second energy level is filled with a maximum of eight electrons. * Neon is very stable, just like Helium. ### The following illustration depicts the examples discussed: * **(a) Hydrogen (H)** : A single electron orbiting a proton. * **(b) Helium (He)** : Two electrons orbiting a proton. * **(c) Lithium (Li)** : Two electron orbiting a proton, and with a second energy level. One electron orbiting in the second level. * **(d) Neon (Ne)** : Two electrons orbiting a proton, and a second energy level with eight electrons.