Final answer:
Atoms follow the octet rule by sharing, losing, or gaining valence electrons. Atoms of metals tend to lose electrons, while atoms of nonmetals tend to gain electrons to achieve an octet in their outermost energy level. Another way atoms satisfy the octet rule is by sharing valence electrons with other atoms.
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. The second way is by transferring valence electrons from one atom to another. Atoms of metals tend to lose all of their valence electrons, which leaves them with an octet from the next lowest principal energy level. Atoms of nonmetals tend to gain electrons in order to fill their outermost principal energy level with an octet.