Why are full electron shells considered stable?

In summary, atoms create ions or chemical bonds in order to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to that of a noble gas. This is because electrons in the same shell are not efficient in shielding each other from the nuclear charge, leading to an increase in binding energy. This is most pronounced in a filled shell and least pronounced in a partially filled shell. This is why noble gas electron configurations are considered stable.
  • #1
keigoh
3
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I've always heard that when atoms make ions or create chemical blonde, thru try to make their electron configurations the same as that of a noble thereby filling their electron shells and making them stable. Why then, are noble gas election configurations considered stable?
 
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  • #2
The point is that electrons in the same shell are not very effective in screening each other from the nuclear charge, i.e. in filling up a shell, the electrons see a higher and higher effective nuclear charge, thus increasing the binding energy. This effect is maximal for a filled shell and minimal for a shell with just one or two electrons.
 

1. Why are full electron shells considered stable?

Full electron shells are considered stable because they have achieved a state of maximum energy efficiency. This means that all the electrons in the shell are in their lowest possible energy state, making them less likely to react with other atoms and form chemical bonds.

2. How does having a full electron shell affect an atom's reactivity?

Having a full electron shell decreases an atom's reactivity because it is energetically unfavorable for it to gain or lose electrons. This makes it less likely for the atom to form chemical bonds with other atoms.

3. What determines the stability of an electron shell?

The stability of an electron shell is determined by the number of electrons it contains. If the shell is full, it is considered stable. However, if the shell is not full, the atom will try to gain or lose electrons in order to achieve a full shell and become more stable.

4. Why do atoms strive to have full electron shells?

Atoms strive to have full electron shells because it allows them to achieve a lower energy state, making them more stable. This is because full electron shells follow the octet rule, which states that atoms are most stable when they have 8 electrons in their outermost shell.

5. Are full electron shells always considered stable?

No, full electron shells are not always considered stable. Some elements, such as the noble gases, have full electron shells but are still very reactive due to their high ionization energies. This means that it requires a lot of energy to remove an electron from these atoms, making them less likely to form chemical bonds.

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