The Part of the Atom That Determines How the Atom

Question

The part of the atom that determines how the atom behaves chemically is the
A) proton.
B) electron.
C) neutron.
D) innermost shell.
E) nucleus.

Accepted Answer

The electron determines how the atom behaves chemically because it is involved in chemical reactions, bonding, and the formation of compounds. The proton and neutron are located in the nucleus and do not participate in chemical reactions. The innermost shell is important in determining the energy levels of the electrons, but does not determine chemical behavior.