Explain octet configuration?
Answers
OCTET CONFIGURATION :
The octet rule refers to the tendency of atoms to prefer to have eight electrons in the valence shell (outer orbital). When atoms have fewer than eight electrons, they tend to react and form more stable compounds. ... An octet corresponds to an electron configuration ending with s2p6.
Answer:
The octet rule is a chemical rule of thumb that reflects observation that elements tend to bond in such a way that each atom has eight electrons in its valence shell, giving it the same electronic configuration as a noble gas. The rule is especially applicable to carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and the halogens, but also to metals such as sodium or magnesium.
The valence electrons can be counted using a Lewis electron dot diagram as shown at the right for carbon dioxide. The electrons shared by the two atoms in a covalent bond are counted twice, once for each atom. In carbon dioxide each oxygen shares four electrons with the central carbon, two (shown in red) from the oxygen itself and two (shown in black) from the carbon. All four of these electrons are counted in both the carbon octet and the oxygen octet.