According to the octet rule, if an atom has fewer than 8 electrons in the outer most energy level, what is likely to happen?(1 point)
Responses
Nothing will happen, unless it is radioactive.
It will gain or lose neutrons until it has an equivalent number of neutrons to protons.
It will react with other nearby atoms to give, receive or share electrons until it has a full outer shell.
It will release electrons and protons until it reaches a stable configuration.
It will react with other nearby atoms to give, receive or share electrons until it has a full outer shell.
According to the octet rule, if an atom has fewer than 8 electrons in the outermost energy level, it is likely to react with other nearby atoms to give, receive, or share electrons until it has a full outer shell.
The correct answer is: It will react with other nearby atoms to give, receive or share electrons until it has a full outer shell.
To arrive at this answer, you can apply the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable electron configuration of eight electrons in their outermost energy level (except for hydrogen and helium, which are exceptions to the rule).
To understand this concept and arrive at the right answer, you can consider the following steps:
1. Understand the octet rule: The octet rule is a chemical principle that states atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of eight electrons. This allows the atom to achieve a more stable, lower energy state.
2. Identify the situation: The question states that an atom has fewer than eight electrons in its outermost energy level. This means that the atom needs additional electrons to reach a stable configuration according to the octet rule.
3. Consider the possible options: Let's analyze each given response:
a. Nothing will happen, unless it is radioactive: This response does not align with the octet rule. The octet rule suggests that atoms will react to achieve a stable electron configuration, regardless of radioactivity.
b. It will gain or lose neutrons until it has an equivalent number of neutrons to protons: This response mentions neutrons, which are electrically neutral particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The question is about the behavior of electrons, which are negatively charged particles. Neutrons do not directly affect an atom's electron configuration, so this option is not correct.
c. It will react with other nearby atoms to give, receive or share electrons until it has a full outer shell: This response aligns with the octet rule. It suggests that the atom will interact with other atoms to either gain, lose, or share electrons until it achieves a stable configuration.
d. It will release electrons and protons until it reaches a stable configuration: This response suggests that the atom will release both electrons and protons, which would result in a change in the atom's identity. This behavior is not consistent with the octet rule.
4. Choose the correct option: Given the analysis, the correct response is that the atom will react with other nearby atoms to give, receive, or share electrons until it achieves a full outer shell. This behavior allows the atom to achieve a stable configuration according to the octet rule.