What does the octet rule state that explains why atoms bond?

An atom bonds to have eight valence electrons to become stable.
An atom bonds to lose eight valence electrons to become stable.
An atom bonds to have eight valence electrons to become unstable.
An atom bonds to lose eight valence electrons to become unstable.

Question

What does the octet rule state that explains why atoms bond?

An atom bonds to have eight valence electrons to become stable.
An atom bonds to lose eight valence electrons to become stable.
An atom bonds to have eight valence electrons to become unstable.
An atom bonds to lose eight valence electrons to become unstable.

sapphiremoon · Answer

An atom bonds to have eight valence electrons to become stable. It really just means a full valence shell (not all valence shells will have eight electrons (like hydrogen), but most will).

sapphiremoon · Answer

This is chemistry, by the way, not physics.

osprey · Answer

The first answer fits, although the way that electrons are thought to be distributed is pretty complicated, simplest examples being the first thirty or so in the periodic table. Hydrogen element has only ONE electron, and is, well pretty unstable. Helium has TWO electrons and is INERT, Lithium has three electrons and is pretty unstable etc etc etc http://perendis.webs.com @SapphireMoon Couldn't it be applied physics ? - quantum to elements ?

sapphiremoon · Answer

They teach it in chemistry, @osprey, but it could be an example of partially overlapping disciplines.

osprey · Answer

Yup, a bit like biophysics = bio + Physics, geo physics = geo + physics etc.

sapphiremoon · Answer

Chemiphysics? idk..