Question

pebworth, logan sps physical science checkpoint2 2025 - 2026 directions: what is the primary force responsible for holding atoms together in a compound or allowing them to move during a chemical change?

• electrostatic pull between the nuclei
• electromagnetic forces between positive and negative charges
• physical glue found inside the electron cloud
• the friction created when atoms collide

Explanation:

Chemical bonding and reactions rely on interactions between charged particles: positively charged atomic nuclei and negatively charged electrons. These electrostatic attractions hold atoms together in compounds and drive electron rearrangement during chemical changes. The other options are incorrect: centripetal force relates to circular motion, physical glue is not a scientific term for this, and friction is a mechanical force unrelated to atomic-level chemical interactions.

Answer:

B. Electrostatic forces between positive and negative charges