Explain the octet rule and give an example of how it is used.

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Jazmine Adkins

Chemistry

22 May, 14:55

Explain the octet rule and give an example of how it is used.

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Daniella Larson · Answer 1

The octet rule is a very important prinicple in chemistry.

The octed rule states that the atoms trend to win, lose or share electrons to acquire a complete set of 8 electrons in the outer shell.

For example Sodium has 1 valence electron and it will be happy to lose that electron to stay with 8 electrons in the outer shell.

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons, so it will be happy to accept 1 more electron to have 8 electrons in the outer shell.

When sodium and chlorine bond, they share their valence electrons and each atom is surrounded by 8 electrons, which is a stable configuration. That is how the sodium chloride is formed.