Question

1. which characteristic of an atom determines whether it will combine with other atoms? its number of valence electrons its number of protons and neutrons the total number of electrons in the atom the number of protons in its nucleus

Explanation:

An atom's chemical reactivity and tendency to bond with other atoms are governed by its valence electrons. These are the outermost electrons, and atoms tend to gain, lose, or share them to achieve a stable electron configuration. Protons define the element, total electrons match protons in neutral atoms but don't drive bonding, and protons+neutrons define mass, not bonding behavior.

Answer:

A. Its number of valence electrons