Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: harkkam on May 06, 2009, 12:05:49 AM

Title: Why do filled octet shells aka Octet Rule impart stability
Post by: harkkam on May 06, 2009, 12:05:49 AM

I've tried searching for the answer but need something more in-depth than "when an atom has an octet it has reached the most stable position, that of a noble gas"

Why does filling the 2p shell of say oxygen make it more stable than only having six valence e- in its outer shell.

I was reading somewhere it had to do with -Zeff/n^2 something like that and this equation predicts electron energies.

Thank you. if anyone can point me to a detailed explanation to satisfy my curiosity Id appreciate it. Thank you

Title: Re: Why do filled octet shells aka Octet Rule impart stability
Post by: Rabn on May 06, 2009, 01:46:22 AM

Have you ever thought about why roads that are bi-directional tend to experience less damage than roads that aren't bi-directional? This may seem to be unrelated at first, but give a good thinking to it, it's more symbolic than material.