what may be lost, gained or shared to establish a chemical bond
Key Concept Atoms share, gain, or lose electrons when chemical bonds. form. What You Will Learn. â¢ Chemical bonding is the joining of atoms to form new substances. â¢ Valence electrons are used to form chemical bonds. â¢ The number of valence electrons in an atom determines whether the. atom will form bonds. Why It Matters. Understanding chemical bonding helps explain why some elements. combine and some do not.