Atoms can form bonds with other atoms by sharing or transferring valence electrons. When atoms share valence electrons, they form covalent bonds. When atoms transfer valence electrons, they form ionic bonds.
The number of bonds an atom can make is limited by the number of valence electrons it has. For example, an atom with one valence electron can only make one bond. An atom with two valence electrons can make two bonds. An atom with three valence electrons can make three bonds, and so on.
Some atoms can also form multiple bonds. A multiple bond is a bond between two atoms that involves more than one pair of electrons. For example, a double bond is a bond between two atoms that involves two pairs of electrons. A triple bond is a bond between two atoms that involves three pairs of electrons.
The ability of an atom to form multiple bonds is determined by its atomic number. The atomic number of an atom is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. The higher the atomic number of an atom, the more likely it is to be able to form multiple bonds.
