lowest energy

[Herbinator]

Why does an atom tend to seek its lowest possible energy (atoms bond to achieve a lower energy state), and what does achieving lowest possible energy actually mean?

[insane_alien]

stability. same reasons buildings fall into piles of rubble instead of piles of rubble rising to make buildings.

[thedarkshade]

Why does an atom tend to seek its lowest possible energy (atoms bond to achieve a lower energy state), and what does achieving lowest possible energy actually mean?

To reach stability. Lowest level means stability.

[Herbinator]

That makes sense. Then I guess my question really is why are atoms more stable when they have less energy.

[thedarkshade]

That makes sense. Then I guess my question really is why are atoms more stable when they have less energy.

 

Yes, they complete their electronic configuration, becoming stable.

[Herbinator]

O.k. So when an electron is added to an atom, it releases energy (electron affinity), but why does this occur? Ionization energy makes sense to me because as the energy of an electron increases, it is able to escape the nuclear charge of the atom, and hence leaves the atom. When the reverse happens, energy is released. Why?

[thedarkshade]

O.k. So when an electron is added to an atom, it releases energy (electron affinity), but why does this occur? Ionization energy makes sense to me because as the energy of an electron increases, it is able to escape the nuclear charge of the atom, and hence leaves the atom. When the reverse happens, energy is released. Why?

It's not always one electron, it depends how many electrons does that atom need to complete electronic configuration. The energy is released because of affinity toward the electron. Excitation makes the electron go to a higher level, then it releases the energy (which ur talking about) and then returns to that previous level, becoming stable.

[Herbinator]

Thank you, but I wasn't really talking about excitation. Take sodium choride for example. When a sodium atom and a chlorine atom combine, the sodium atom gains energy in order for an electron to be released. When this electron is transferred to the chlorine atom, the chlorine atom releases energy(electron affinity). I don't understand why the chlorine atom releases energy? I know it achieves a noble gas electron configuration (and this is most stable), but why does the chlorine atom release energy when the electron is added to it?

[thedarkshade]

Thank you, but I wasn't really talking about excitation. Take sodium choride for example. When a sodium atom and a chlorine atom combine, the sodium atom gains energy in order for an electron to be released. When this electron is transferred to the chlorine atom, the chlorine atom releases energy(electron affinity). I don't understand why the chlorine atom releases energy? I know it achieves a noble gas electron configuration (and this is most stable), but why does the chlorine atom release energy when the electron is added to it?

The title of the thread is "lowest energy level", you can derive the answer from it. Before reacting, it had a higher energy level, so it had to release some energy to reach this low stable energy level. And the reaction made it possible to release this energy and so reach stability. It's the most logical explanation I can think of right now!

[Herbinator]

Alright, thank you very much for your help.

[thedarkshade]

Alright, thank you very much for your help.

You're welcome mate, I just hope I was useful to you!

[MrMongoose]

I'm not happy to be honest...

 

The conversation as I see it goes like this:

 

"Why do atoms like to lose energy?"

 

"To become stable"

 

"So why does losing energy make them stabler?"

 

"Because particles like to lose energy"

 

As compelling as the circular argument may be, it does little to explain why low energy states are stabler than high energy states.

 

Sorry if I'm being awkward, but Herbinator asked a question I only just realised I wanted to know the answer to!

[Mr Skeptic]

O.k. So when an electron is added to an atom, it releases energy (electron affinity), but why does this occur? Ionization energy makes sense to me because as the energy of an electron increases, it is able to escape the nuclear charge of the atom, and hence leaves the atom. When the reverse happens, energy is released. Why?

 

Energy is released when the electron falls toward the nucleus for the same reason that energy is released when anything else falls -- work is done and potential energy is released. And to be more accurate, the electron falls from a higher orbital to a lower orbital, which is a bit different than regular macroscopic falling.