What is the term for the force that holds atoms together and results in the loss of individual properties?

The term that describes the force holding atoms together and causing them to lose their individual properties is a chemical bond. Chemical bonds are interactions that lead to the formation of molecules and compounds by connecting atoms, resulting in new substances with distinct physical and chemical properties different from the individual atoms that composed them.

When atoms bond chemically, they can share or transfer electrons, which fundamentally alters their behavior and characteristics. This process is essential in the formation of matter as we know it, influencing everything from the stability of molecules to the reactivity of different substances.

Other types of interactions, like covalent and ionic bonds, are specific forms of chemical bonding. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, while ionic bonds arise from the electrostatic force between oppositely charged ions. Although both are important types of chemical bonds, the broader category of a chemical bond encompasses all interactions that lead to the formation of compounds, making it the most accurate term in this context.