The octet rule indicates that
A)all of the shells in an atom hold a maximum of eight electrons.
B)all of the Group A elements have eight valence electrons.
C)atoms lose, gain, or share valence electrons to have eight valence electrons.
D)all of the noble gases have eight total electrons.
E)the noble gases react with other compounds to get eight valence electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose or share electrons in order to attain a stable configuration of eight valence electrons, similar to the configuration of the noble gases. This is because having eight valence electrons makes the atom more stable and less reactive. Therefore, choice C correctly reflects the octet rule. Choices A, B, D, and E are incorrect because they either do not fully or accurately describe the octet rule.

The Octet Rule Indicates That