Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Full video here: youtu.be/C0Qaf-UJ2XQ?si=Wj9ba8fXSickES0U
Atoms bond with different numbers of other atoms based on the number of electrons in their outermost shell, also known as the valence shell. These electrons are the ones involved in bonding, and each atom seeks to either gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration similar to that of noble gases, which have complete outer shells.
The rule of thumb here is the octet rule, which suggests that atoms are most stable when they have eight electrons in their valence shell. However, the number of electrons currently in the valence shell determines how many additional electrons an atom needs to reach this stable state:
Atoms like oxygen have six electrons in their valence shell and need two more to complete the octet. Therefore, they typically form two bonds.
Atoms like carbon have four electrons in their valence shell. To reach an octet, they need four more electrons, allowing them to form up to four bonds.
This difference in the number of required electrons to achieve a full outer shell is what causes some atoms to bond with more or fewer atoms than others.
patreon.com/statedclearly
Full video here: youtu.be/C0Qaf-UJ2XQ?si=Wj9ba8fXSickES0U
Atoms bond with different numbers of other atoms based on the number of electrons in their outermost shell, also known as the valence shell. These electrons are the ones involved in bonding, and each atom seeks to either gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration similar to that of noble gases, which have complete outer shells.
The rule of thumb here is the octet rule, which suggests that atoms are most stable when they have eight electrons in their valence shell. However, the number of electrons currently in the valence shell determines how many additional electrons an atom needs to reach this stable state:
Atoms like oxygen have six electrons in their valence shell and need two more to complete the octet. Therefore, they typically form two bonds.
Atoms like carbon have four electrons in their valence shell. To reach an octet, they need four more electrons, allowing them to form up to four bonds.
This difference in the number of required electrons to achieve a full outer shell is what causes some atoms to bond with more or fewer atoms than others.
