ChemDuet - The Duet Rule Explained

The duet rule dictates the formation of all chemical bonds, from covalent bonds (which share electrons) to ionic ones (which transfer an electron). This rule is crucial for the formation of anions and cations, two types of chemical species that provide atoms with stability. Once the duet rule is violated, an atom will become inert elements will become inert.

There are two types of atoms: octets and duplets. Both have eight electrons in their outermost shell and are known as ns2 elements. They are distinguished by their different electron configurations, and each octet and duplet contains one or two of each type. Here are a few of the differences between the two types of atoms. As you can see, both duplets and octets have different chemical properties.

Similarly, the octet rule defines the stability of an atom based on the number of electrons in its valence shell. For instance, hydrogen atoms with bonding have two electrons, forming a covalent bond with an energy of 435.88 KJ/mol. The duplet rule is followed by elements with a valence shell of K. There are also elements that have a valence shell of M rather than P.