Final answer:
The octet rule guides the formation of compounds through ionic or covalent bonding to achieve eight valence electrons. Ionic bonding involves electron transfer, creating charged ions that attract each other, as seen in NaCl. Covalent bonding entails electron sharing, as in H₂O, where atoms share electrons to satisfy their octet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The octet rule states that atoms tend to form compounds in ways that give them eight valence electrons, resembling the electron configuration of a noble gas. In ionic bonding, atoms transfer electrons to achieve the octet, resulting in the formation of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions that attract each other due to opposite charges. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na) donates one electron to chlorine (Cl), resulting in an ionic bond.
By contrast, covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between atoms to fulfill the octet rule. For example, in water (H₂O), each hydrogen (H) atom shares an electron with oxygen (O), allowing all the atoms to satisfy the octet rule. Atoms in group 6A, such as oxygen, can form two covalent bonds to satisfy the octet rule.
Examples of everyday objects containing these bonds include: