The nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons in a cluster. Virtually all the mass of the atom resides in the nucleus. This force between the protons and neutrons overcomes the repulsive electrical force that would, according to the rules of electricity, push the protons apart otherwise . Chemical bonding is essentially the interaction of electrons from one atom with the electrons of another atom. The magnitude of the charge on an electron is equal to the charge on a proton.
Electrons surround the atom in pathways called orbitals.
The inner orbitals surrounding the atom are spherical but the outer orbitals are much more complicated. Chemical Bonding Chemically bonding occurs when two particles can exchange or combine their outer electrons in such a way that is energetically favorable . An energetically favorable state can be seen as analogous to the way a dropped rock has a natural tendency to fall to the floor. When the bond occurs, the atoms become a compound.