Chemistry For — Dummies

: Elements in the same column have similar chemical "personalities" because they have the same number of outer-shell electrons.

: These indicate the number of electron shells an atom has. Chemistry For Dummies

: Neutral particles in the nucleus; they add mass but don't change the element's identity. Variations in neutron counts create isotopes . : Elements in the same column have similar

Atoms rarely like being alone; they bond to become more stable. they bond to become more stable.