What is the octet rule in chemistry?

8 Valence electrons

The octet rule is a simple chemical rule of thumb that states that atoms tend to combine in such a way that they each have eight electrons in their valence shells, giving them the same electronic configuration as a noble gas. This 8-electron configuration is especially stable because with 8 valence electrons, the s- and p-orbitals are completely filled (with 2 in the s-orbital, and 6 in the p-orbitals). Having completely filled orbitals provides increased stability due to something called "exchange energy."

The rule is applicable to the main-group elements, especially carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and the halogens, but also the metals in the first two columns of the periodic table (but not to the transition metals in the middle of the periodic table). Note that the elements hydrogen (H) and helium (He) don't follow the octet rule, but rather the "duet" rule (2 electrons) because they don't have any p-orbital electrons.

In simple terms, molecules or ions tend to be most stable when the outermost electron shells of their constituent atoms contain eight electrons. The rule is commonly used in drawing Lewis dot structures (see the Related Questions links to the left of this answer).

First answer by Uniquestar.7. Last edit by JEK. Contributor trust: 1865 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 62 [recommend question]