Why is octet stable

What is octet configuration, can be understood from the arrangement of electrons in the outermost shells. The atoms are seen to have 8 electrons in the exterior shells. The following electron configuration explains this phenomenon. To understand what is an octet formation in Chemistry, we need to know the electron arrangement. If the outermost shell forms an eight-electron arrangement, it is known as an octet.

In other words, an octet of electrons is the same. This octet structure is responsible for inertness of most noble gases. There are a few examples that follow the chemical bonding of atoms in compliance with the octet rule and this can be observed in the given subsection. The chlorine atoms contain 7 electrons in its valence shell and it requires only a single atom to form an octet.

So neon won't give 'em, won't take 'em, and won't share 'em. Strike three, no way to bond, no compounds. You're stable. For elements not in Group 18, at least one of the scenarios above is a good idea. Fluorine or oxygen have either slightly favourable electron affinities to make [F]- or [O]2-, or, again, uphill by small enough amounts that ionic complexes are overall downhill. Or they can share: overlap the singly-occupied orbitals with other singly occupied orbitals from other elements to form covalent bonds until all the singly occupied orbitals have a bond.

That will lower the energy of those electrons and fully occupy every orbital -- fewer bonds less than an octet would leave some orbitals at least partially empty, so there are spots you could add more electrons to further lower the energy of the system, while more bonds would require orbitals you don't have available.

Net result, elements usually share to form the octet, and then stop. Basically, it comes down to the orbital energy structure you already understand.

Filling the valence level, either by taking or sharing electrons, is downhill, adding to the one above it is uphill. The energy gap between a filled p-shell and opening a new s-shell is so large, that it is energetically unfavored, and this is the origin of the octet rule:. P-shell configurations are eneregetically a lot more favorable than s-shell configurations with a higher pricipal quantum number or d-shell configurations.

But in between, there is always a s-shell being filled first and a p-shell being filled afterwards. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams?

Learn more. Ask Question. Asked 8 years, 2 months ago. A stable arrangement is attended when the atom is surrounded by eight electrons. This octet can be made up by own electrons and some electrons which are shared. Thus, an atom continues to form bonds until an octet of electrons is made. The noble gases rarely form compounds.

They have the most stable configuration full octet, no charge , so they have no reason to react and change their configuration. All other elements attempt to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a noble gas configuration. The formula for table salt is NaCl. If sodium metal and chlorine gas mix under the right conditions, they will form salt. The sodium loses an electron, and the chlorine gains that electron.

In the process, a great amount of light and heat is released. The resulting salt is mostly unreactive — it is stable. It will not undergo any explosive reactions, unlike the sodium and chlorine that it is made of.