Octet Rule, Covalent Bonds, and Molecules

Octet Rule  

- Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve eight electrons in their outermost shell.  

- This gives them the stable electronic configuration of noble gases.  

- The tendency to complete the octet explains why atoms form bonds.  

Covalent Bonds  

- When two non‑metal atoms react, both need to gain electrons for stability.  

- They achieve this by sharing valence electrons.  

- The force of attraction between the shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the atoms holds them together.  

- This shared‑electron bond is called a covalent bond.  

Covalent Bonds are Formed Between:  

1. Non‑metal + Non‑metal  

2. Non‑metal + Metalloid  

Molecules  

- When two or more atoms are held together by covalent bonds, they form a molecule.  

- Examples: H₂O (water), O₂ (oxygen), CH₄ (methane).  

Insight:  

The octet rule explains the drive for stability, while covalent bonding shows how atoms cooperate by sharing electrons. Together, they form the basis of molecular structures that make up much of the matter around us.