Question

Stability of outermost shell?

Answer 1

Atoms will react to get in the most stable state possible. ... Executive Summary: Atoms with closed shells resist covalent bonding. A closedshell refers to a stable number of valence electrons in an atom's outer orbit. Typically, 8 valence electrons make an atom chemically inert and relatively stable.

Answer 2

Atomic stability: The stability of atoms depends on whether or not their outer-most shell is filled with electrons. If the outer shell is filled, the atom is stable. Atoms with unfilled outer shells are unstable, and will usually form chemical bonds with other atoms to achieve stability.