Give reason for the following: a) Ions are more stable than atoms. b) Noble gases show low reactivity. c) An atom is electrically neutral.

a) Ions are more stable than atoms.

Except for the noble gases, atoms of most of the element do not exist in independently in the free state due to the arrangement of their electrons. If the outermost shell of an atom does not complete octet, it is unstable. The atoms will have the tendency to gain or lose electrons in order to achieve the electronic configuration of its nearest inert gas. So, atoms exist only in two forms either in the form of molecules or ions.

Ions are formed when atoms gain or lose electrons to achieve the electronic configuration of its nearest inert gas. So, ions are more stable than atoms.

b) Noble gases show low reactivity.

The outermost shell of the atoms of noble gases completes their octet. They do not gain or lose any electrons and do not take part any chemical reaction. They are stable, and hence they show low reactivity.

C) An atom is electrically neutral.

Atoms are electrically neutral because they contain equal number of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. Hence the net charge of an atom is zero.