Atoms achieve maximum stability when their electrons occupy the atomic orbitals of the lowest possible energies.
Ions achieve maximum stability when they cluster in ionic solids.
Molecules achieve maximum stability when electrons are shared between nuclei. Valence electrons are all that are needed to describe bonding. Minimize formal charges by shifting electrons to make double bonds and triple bonds Check out the Drawing Lewis Structures Tutorial for more information. Combining an atom's atomic orbitals to form a special set of directional orbitals is referred to as hybridization . Any hybrid orbital is named from the atomic valence orbitals from which it was constructed.