Question

What is the octet rule and how does it work?

Answer 1

The octet rule is the simple observation that many main group compounds of the 2nd row and 3rd row TEND to be stable when they have eight electrons....

Explanation:

..and why so? Well such second row elements have `1xx2s`, and `3xx2p` orbitals which can accommodate EIGHT electrons as bonding or non-bonding electrons...and thus these compounds TEND to the fill the orbitals with the required octet of electrons. Organic chemistry, which includes nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, and the halogens, is characterized by such considerations.