valence electrons
basic atoms
electron shells
atoms
molecules
electron distribution
harm living organisms
interact with other molecules
charge distribution
electrons
The of each element have a characteristic number of arranged in . The number of determines what types of bonds or ions the atoms may form, so the chemical reactivity of an atom arises from its . The properties of compounds emerge from the arrangement of their constituent atoms and of the bonds between them.
Thus, a wide variety of with very different chemical properties can be made from the same . Each molecule has a distinctive size, shape, and , which determine its highly specific ability to .
Compounds in chemical wastes may contaminate the environment if their atoms are combined in new arrangements that .