explain the octet rule and give an example of how it is used
Explain the octet rule and give an example of how it is used. The electron configurations of the noble gases are extremely stable. The octet rule states that, in chemical reactions, elements gain or lose electrons to achieve a noble gas configuration.hen oxygen reacts to form ionic compounds, it completes its octet by gaining two electrons from the element it reacts with. These two electrons add to the p orbital of oxygen, giving it the electron configuration (1s 2s 2p) of neon.
The octet rule is a chemical rule of thumb that reflects observation that atoms of main-group elements tend to combine in such a way that each atom has eight electrons in its valence shell, giving it the same electronic configuration as a noble gas.he octet rule is a chemical rule of thumb that reflects observation that atoms of main-group elements tend to combine in such a way that each atom has eight electrons in its valence shell, giving it the same electronic configuration as a noble gas.