What can atoms do to achieve stability?
To achieve greater stability, atoms will tend to completely fill their outer shells and will bond with other elements to accomplish this goal by sharing electrons, accepting electrons from another atom, or donating electrons to another atom.
Why do atoms need 8 electrons to be stable?
A complete octet is very stable because all orbitals will be full. Atoms with greater stability have less energy, so a reaction that increases the stability of the atoms will release energy in the form of heat or light. A stable arrangement is attended when the atom is surrounded by eight electrons.
Why are there only 8 electrons in the second shell?
The shells of an atom cannot accommodate more than 8 electrons, even if it has a capacity to accommodate more electrons. This is a very important rule called the Octet rule. According to this rule, atoms gain, loose or share electrons to achieve the stable configuration similar to the nearest noble gas.
Why can the second energy level only hold 8 electrons?
Because the first shell can only hold a maximum of 2 electrons, the third electron must go into the second shell. The 2s subshell holds a maximum of 2 electrons, and the 2p subshell holds a maximum of 6 electrons. This means that the second shell can hold a maximum of eight electrons (2+6=8).
Which atoms can hold more than 8 electrons?
Unlike atoms from periods one and two that only have the s and p orbitals (total of 8 valence electrons), atoms like phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine can have more than 8 electrons because they are not restricted to the s and p orbitals and have a d orbital for additional electrons needed for bonding.
Why can the fourth energy level hold 32 electrons?
The fourth and higher levels also have an f sublevel, containing seven f orbitals, which can hold a maximum of 14 electrons. Thus, the fourth level can hold up to 32 electrons: 2 in the s orbital, 6 in the three p orbitals, 10 in the five d orbitals, and 14 in the seven f orbitals.
Would an electron have to absorb energy?
The electron can gain the energy it needs by absorbing light. If the electron jumps from the second energy level down to the first energy level, it must give off some energy by emitting light. The atom absorbs or emits light in discrete packets called photons, and each photon has a definite energy.
Can an electron jump to a higher energy level?
The laws of quantum mechanics describe the process by which electrons can move from one allowed orbit, or energy level, to another. In the same way, if energy is added to an atom, an electron can use that energy to make a quantum leap from a lower to a higher orbit.