When the outermost energy level is filled, the atom is stable. Nature always tries to achieve stability.
There are two elements which can have a filled outer electron shell with only two electrons, those being the first two elements on the periodic table: hydrogen and helium. Their outer shell is the frist shell, principal quantum number 1. Also note that Hydrogen can also achieve a stable electron configuration with no electrons, in which case it consists of a single, naked proton.
Atoms form bonds with other atoms in order to achieve a more stable arrangement of electrons in their outer energy levels. By sharing or transferring these electrons, atoms can achieve a full outer electron shell, which is a more energetically favorable state. Bond formation allows atoms to increase their stability and decrease their overall energy.
Atoms seek to achieve a stable electron configuration by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms to fill their outermost energy level. This allows them to achieve a full valence shell, similar to the noble gases, making them more stable and less reactive.
Bonds are formed between two atoms because that results in a more stable state for the atoms. This is a result of electron configuration where most atoms want to have 8 electrons in their outer-most orbital (there are exceptions to this rule, however).
The theory is that some electrons are only weakly held to their atoms (they are in an outer electron shell). Some other atoms have an outer electron shell that is not fully complete and is able to attract electrons away from atoms that have loosely-held ones. Both these atoms then become ions, one charged positvely (having lost an electron) and some negatively (having gained one).
There are two elements which can have a filled outer electron shell with only two electrons, those being the first two elements on the periodic table: hydrogen and helium. Their outer shell is the frist shell, principal quantum number 1. Also note that Hydrogen can also achieve a stable electron configuration with no electrons, in which case it consists of a single, naked proton.
the electrons on their outer shell, all atoms want to gain a full valence shell.
So they can have a full outer shell.
Atoms want to gain stability by achieving a full outer electron shell, typically with 8 electrons (except for the first energy level which is stable with 2 electrons). This configuration, known as the octet rule, is energetically favorable as it results in a lower overall energy state for the atom. The stability is achieved by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons through chemical bonding.
Atoms form bonds with other atoms in order to achieve a more stable arrangement of electrons in their outer energy levels. By sharing or transferring these electrons, atoms can achieve a full outer electron shell, which is a more energetically favorable state. Bond formation allows atoms to increase their stability and decrease their overall energy.
"Want" is a word you should try to avoid when talking about atoms. Oxygen reacts to get a full outer shell of 8.
It isn't. Electrons surrounding atoms are arranged in energy levels. Each energy level can carry a certain number of electrons. The innermost energy level can hold up to two electrons, the second and third levels have up to eight each, the fourth has a capacity of 16... If ever an atom (such as a noble gas) or an ion has a full outer shell, it is considered stable unreactive and, for want of a better word, "happy".
The answer is Valence Electrons. Atoms want a full number of electrons in their outer shell, which is why atoms with only one electron missing from their outer shell are most reactive, because they are close to completing that shell. Electrons as such are half-spin particles or fermions. A single particle electron orbital (intended as a solution of a 1-D Schrödinger equation) with occupancies 0 and 1 can have 2 allowed quantum states. Electrons are seen as indistinguishable particles in quantum mechanics. In other words electron 1 is the same as electron 2. We can then state that any electron of appropriate energy will be able to occupy the outermost shell of an element.
They share electrons when they try and corm covalent or ionic bonds. This is because the atoms want to gain a full outer shell. So when they share electrons they can have full shells.
Atoms seek to achieve a stable electron configuration by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms to fill their outermost energy level. This allows them to achieve a full valence shell, similar to the noble gases, making them more stable and less reactive.
Bonds are formed between two atoms because that results in a more stable state for the atoms. This is a result of electron configuration where most atoms want to have 8 electrons in their outer-most orbital (there are exceptions to this rule, however).
Atoms want to be stable because stability leads to a lower energy state, which is more favorable. When atoms are stable, their outer electron shells are filled or partially filled, which results in a more balanced state. Atoms achieve stability by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons to reach a more stable electron configuration.