Questions: An atom can be described as chemically inert if its outermost electron shell contains electrons. eight nine two Both A and C are correct.

An atom can be described as chemically inert if its outermost electron shell contains  electrons.
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Both A and C are correct.
Transcript text: Question 29 1 pts An atom can be described as chemically inert if its outermost electron shell contains $\qquad$ electrons. eight nine two Both A and C are correct.
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Solution

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Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding Chemical Inertness

Chemical inertness refers to an atom's lack of reactivity with other substances. This typically occurs when an atom's outermost electron shell is full, making it stable and unlikely to form chemical bonds.

Step 2: Identifying Electron Shell Capacity

The outermost electron shell, also known as the valence shell, is considered full when it contains a specific number of electrons. For most elements, this number is eight, which is known as the octet rule. However, for the first shell, which is the case for helium, it is full with two electrons.

Step 3: Evaluating the Options
  • Option A: Eight electrons make the outer shell full for most elements, leading to chemical inertness.
  • Option C: Two electrons make the outer shell full for helium, leading to chemical inertness.
  • Option D: Both A and C are correct, as they describe conditions under which an atom can be chemically inert.

Final Answer

The correct answer is D.

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