The conversation between human and AI assistant.
Why does each element only react with certain elements? What causes this? Why does carbon only react with some elements?
I was wondering if you could help me understand why each element only reacts with certain elements. What causes this specificity?
Ah, that's a great question. The reactivity of an element is largely determined by its electronic structure. Specifically, by the configuration of its valence electrons - the outermost electrons that participate in chemical reactions.