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An atom of oxygen has 8 electrons.

They are configured as 1s2, 2s2, 2p4.

The 2p4 sub-shell is the outermost shell , and therefore the most energetic.

The '2' shell has 6 electrons leaving space to accept two more electrons.

Two received electrons would be in the 2p sub-shell, making for the complete octet of electrons in the 2 shell.

This would form either a covalent bond with other non-metals or act as an anion to combine ionically with metallic cations.

When oxygen combines covalently with say hydrogen ( a non-metal) the hydrogen atom shares its one electron with one of the 2p4 electrons . This occurs twice over making the shared electrons, from two hydrogen atoms, to complete the 2p sub-shell from sp4, to sp6. This is the case for water (H2O , structurally H-O-H, each hyphen represents two electrons on the covalent bond.

When oxygen combines ionically, it receives two electrons from a metal atom that has ionised e.g. 2Na ==> 2Na^+ + 2e^- These two electrons move to the oxygen atom under the influence of electron affinity. So it completes the 2p sub-shell. to 2p6.

The oxygen anion (O^2-) the combines ionically with two sodium cations (2Na^+) Opposite charges attract.

Hence we have Na2O.

Hope that helps!!!!

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lenpollock

Lvl 17
4y ago

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