Question

How do elements fill their outer shell with 8 electrons to fulfil the octet rule?

1) losing a valence electron or some valence electrons
2) gaining a valence electron or some valence electrons
3) all of the above
4) bonding with another atom or atoms

Answer 1

Atoms fill their outer shell with 8 electrons to fulfil the octet rule by either losing or gaining valence electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atoms can satisfy the octet rule by either losing valence electrons or gaining valence electrons. Metals tend to lose valence electrons to fill their outer shell, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons. By either losing or gaining electrons, atoms can achieve the stable electron configuration of having 8 electrons in their valence shell, which is energetically favorable and known as the octet rule. The octet rule is a guideline for understanding the bonding arrangements that atoms can make.