Atoms form compounds in order to achieve a more stable electron configuration. This is because atoms with unpaired electrons are more reactive than atoms with all of their electrons paired. When atoms bond together, they can share their electrons in order to create a more stable configuration. This sharing of electrons is what holds the atoms together in a compound.

For example, consider the element hydrogen. Hydrogen atoms have one electron each. When two hydrogen atoms come together, they can share their electrons to create a molecule of hydrogen gas (H2). In this molecule, each hydrogen atom has two electrons, which is a more stable configuration than having one unpaired electron.

The same principle applies to all other elements. Atoms will bond together in order to achieve a more stable electron configuration. This is why we see a wide variety of compounds in the world around us, each with its own unique properties.