What Causes Octets: Examining the Physical Forces Behind Atoms

[Galap]

What physical force or property makes it so that atoms 'want' to achieve noble gas configuration of electrons? It doesn't seem to fall under any of the four forces.

 

[alxm]

In short because of how the electrons interact. It's fairly complicated in fact. (Note btw, that the octet rule does not hold in general either).

See for instance https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=412361", where I've written a bit about it.