Final answer:
Iodine obeys the octet rule by gaining electrons when reacting to form compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Iodine obeys the octet rule by gaining electrons when reacting to form compounds. Main group elements on the right side of the periodic table, such as iodine, tend to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to that of the noble gas after them. Iodine has seven valence electrons, so it needs to gain one electron to reach the stable octet configuration.