Question

Valence electrons play a vital role in how atoms follow the octet rule. Describe the role that valence electrons play in the octet rule. Be sure to support your response with evidence from the text.

A) They determine the element's atomic number.
B) They are responsible for chemical bonding.
C) They regulate the element's mass number.
D) They control the element's nuclear stability.

Answer 1

Valence electrons are crucial for chemical bonding as they help atoms achieve a stable electron configuration through the octet rule, which generally involves having eight electrons in their valence shell.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role that valence electrons play in the octet rule is pivotal because they are responsible for the formation of chemically stable arrangements through chemical bonding. According to the text, atoms either gain enough valence electrons to complete their valence shell or lose them such that a filled lower energy level becomes the valence shell. This process is energetically favorable and yields a stable electron configuration resembling that of noble gases. The octet rule states that atoms prefer to have eight electrons in their outermost shell, which is generally achieved through sharing or transferring of valence electrons to form chemical bonds. For example, atoms from group 14 in the periodic table tend to form four covalent bonds to reach an octet since they already possess four valence electrons. However, there are exceptions like hydrogen, which only requires two electrons, and transition metals that do not always follow the octet rule.