Page 52: The Octet Rule

What does the octet rule describe?

• An atom's preference for having eight electrons in its valence shell

• The number of protons in an atom

• The atomic mass of an element

• The number of neutrons in an atom

Which type of elements are already stable because they have a full octet in their outer energy level?

• Noble gases

• Metals

• Nonmetals

• Halogens

What happens to valence electrons when atoms bond?

• They are redistributed to make the atoms more stable

• They are destroyed

• They remain unchanged

• They increase in number

Metals and nonmetals form compounds by gaining or losing _________ electrons.

The octet rule states that atoms gain, lose, or share electrons to fill their outermost energy shell with how many valence electrons?

• 8

• 6

• 10

• 12

What determines the charge of an element according to the octet rule?

• The number of valence electrons it must gain or lose to become stable

• The number of protons

• The atomic mass

• The number of neutrons

Atoms with more or less than 8 valence electrons participate in chemical bonds to attain the ______.