Final answer:
Atoms can obey the octet rule by either sharing or transferring valence electrons. Atoms of metals tend to lose valence electrons, while atoms of nonmetals tend to gain electrons. The octet rule states that atoms of all elements other than noble gases tend to share, lose, or gain valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas with eight valence electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The octet rule states that atoms of all elements other than noble gases tend to share, lose, or gain valence electrons to acquire the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas having eight valence electrons. There are two ways in which atoms can satisfy the octet rule. One way is by sharing their valence electrons with other atoms, and the other way is by transferring valence electrons from one atom to another. Atoms of metals tend to lose all of their valence electrons, while atoms of nonmetals tend to gain electrons to fill their outermost principal energy level with an octet.
For example, oxygen, which has six electrons in its valence shell, is likely to react with other atoms in a way that results in the addition of two electrons to oxygen's valence shell, bringing the number to eight. When two hydrogen atoms each share their single electron with oxygen, covalent bonds are formed, resulting in a molecule of water (H2O).