According to the octet rule, how many electrons do atoms aim to have in their outer shell?

Atoms aim to have eight electrons in their outer shell according to the octet rule. This rule is a fundamental concept in chemistry that reflects the tendency of atoms to seek stability through the fulfillment of their outer electron shell, achieving a configuration similar to that of noble gases, which are naturally stable due to having eight electrons in their valence shell (with the exception of helium, which is stable with two electrons).

The significance of the octet rule lies in its role in chemical bonding. Atoms will typically lose, gain, or share electrons in order to attain a full outer shell, which is energetically favorable. This is why many elements form bonds that result in them acquiring a total of eight valence electrons, promoting stability in their chemical structures and encouraging reactions that lead toward this goal.

While some other numbers of electrons may be associated with different types of atoms or specific circumstances (such as two electrons for hydrogen, which follows the duet rule), the general principle for most elements in the context of chemical bonding revolves around achieving that stable octet configuration.