If atoms are neutral, how do they share electrons

[Genji Shimada]

Homework Statement

If atoms are neutral, then how do they share electrons with each other? In the ionic bonding the metal requires very little energy do release its valence electrons, but once they are free, I don't see a force of attraction from the non metal nucleus because it is balanced. Don't tell me "Because non metal atoms want to have their shell complete" because I know atoms ain't persons, they don't have wishes, they act on the basis of electrostatic interactions.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Borek]

So basically you are asking why hydrogen molecule is more stable than two separate hydrogen atoms, yes?

 

[mfb]

The atom is only neutral as seen from a large distance. It still has an attractive force in places where parts of the other electron orbitals are outside.

 

[Genji Shimada]

So basicaly an atom with 9 protons has attracted 9 electrons which arrange around the nucleus (in orbitals) in such a way that they are as far from one another as possible and at the same time they surround the nucleus in such a way that they ballance its positive charge. When another atom happens to get really close to the first one, it might find a weak spot in the first atom where for a brief moment the field is positive. And that positive field would attract vallance electrons from the first atom, forming covalent bonds and if that field is strong enough it could rip the excess electrons and then the atoms become ionized and stick together forming what's known as ionic bond. That's how i understand it.

 

[TeethWhitener]

as far from one another as possible and at the same time they surround the nucleus in such a way that they ballance its positive charge

The electrons tend to repel each other, but the stable configurations (probability distributions, or atomic orbitals as you might know them) don't place the electrons as far as possible from one another.

When another atom happens to get really close to the first one, it might find a weak spot in the first atom where for a brief moment the field is positive.

A 'weak spot' might not be the best way to think about it. The approach of one atom to another from infinity to the equilibrium bond length is usually energetically monotonic in the adiabatic limit. In other words, it's better to realize that when one atom approaches another slowly, its electron cloud adapts its shape to the incoming perturbation from the other atom's electrons, and vice versa. This lowers the energy of the system, and the atoms continue on their approaching, energy-lowering path until a stable bonding configuration is reached.

 

[mfb]

There is no brief moment involved. If you calculate the electric field, it is zero for large separations, and attractive as soon as you get to the outermost orbitals with the radius considered. Where and how much exactly depends on the element.

 

[Genji Shimada]

I understand, thanks!