Atoms of different elements combine with one another to form compounds. It is important to be able to explain how atoms actually come together to form these compounds or
The octet rule refers to the tendency of atoms to prefer to have eight electrons in the valence shell. When atoms have fewer than eight electrons, they tend to react and form more stable compounds. When discussing the octet rule, we do not consider d or f electrons. Only the s and p electrons are involved in the octet rule, making it useful for the main group elements (elements not in the
One way an atom can satisfy the Octet Rule is by transferring valence electrons from one atom to another. Atoms of metals tend to lose all their valence electrons, which leaves them with an octet from the next lowest principal energy level. Atoms of nonmetals tend to gain electrons in order to fill their outermost principal energy level with an octet. This transfer of electrons from a metal to a nonmetal creating ions, is how an ionic bond is formed. This bond is held together by electrostatic attraction, or the attraction between the positive and negative ions in the bond. Although the ions are charged in an ionic bond, the net result of the bond will be zero.
Scientists like to use pictures to help explain scientific phenomenon. We will learn to draw a picture to help explain how ionic bonds are formed. One way to model ionic compounds is using Bohr models similar to the ones drawn below. But, drawing out the whole
Explain the octet rule. Use evidence from the text.
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