According to the octet rule, oxygen has 6 valence electrons. How many additional electrons does an atom of oxygen need to achieve a stable octet configuration?

• A. 6
• B. 8
• C. 2
• D. 4

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the octet rule states atoms tend to have 8 electrons in their valence shell to achieve stability.
2. Identify the number of valence electrons oxygen has, which is 6 according to the problem statement.
3. Determine how many more electrons oxygen needs to reach 8 by subtracting its current valence electrons from 8: \$8 - 6$.
4. Calculate the difference to find the number of additional electrons required for oxygen to complete its octet.
5. Conclude that oxygen needs 2 more electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration.