What is the octet rule of oxygen?

1 Answer
Feb 8, 2014

The octet rule is the understanding that most atoms seek to gain stability in their outer most energy level by filling the s and p orbitals of the highest energy level with eight electrons.

Oxygen has an electron configuration of 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4 this means that oxygen has six valence electrons 2s^2 2p^4. Oxygen seeks out two additional electrons to fill the p orbital and gain the stability of a noble gas, 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6.

However, now oxygen has 10 electrons and only 8 protons making it a -2 charge anion O^(-2).

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER