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The octet rule is a simple rule of thumb that states that atoms tend to combine in such a way that they each have eight electrons in their valence shells, giving them the same electron configuration as a noble gas. The rule is applicable to the main-group elements.

In simple terms, molecules or ions tend to be most stable when the outermost electron shells of their constituent atoms contain eight electrons.

Hydrogen as you know only has one electron, this electron sits in the S orbital which is represented in 3d as a sphere. These S orbitals can only hold 2 electrons at most. So to get a configuration of the next nobel gas(helium) the hydrogen must have 1 electron applied to it. To this end the Hydrogen may bond with another Hydrogen to provide a stable(ish) configuration of 2S(i.e. 2 electrons in the s orbital) or the hdrogen may bind to another element that need a single electron to get a stable octet, in this case hydrogen may bond with any of the nobel gases e.g.: HF HCl etc....

Hydrogen is not confined to just the halogens though, since it provides one electron it may bond to several different elements to give them a stable octet e.g: H2O, H2S, NH3, CH4, B2H6

But hydrogen will not try and form compounds like LiH7 as the energy of formation of these compounds is far too high and they are too unstable

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