Recent content by Cygnus X-1

If one takes, for example, a lithium ion in lithium chloride, the lithium ion has lost an electron and thus has two electrons rather than the three it previously had. As lithium has three protons, how does having two electrons lower the electrostatic potential energy even though it has the...

Walther Kossel and Gilbert Lewis: "During the formation of a chemical bond, atoms combine together by gaining, losing or sharing electrons in such a way that they acquire nearest noble gas configuration." By what understanding I have so far, and do correct me if I'm wrong, atoms tend to attain...