Central atom and octet rule?

[Rebecca Chu 1C]

Does the central atom have to follow the octet rule? I noticed in some lewis structures the central atom doesn't always have an octet.

[Chem_Mod]

Octet rules will apply except for atoms that can have exceptions.

[victoriatanaka1C]

The central atom can have an expanded octet if it appears in Group 3 or below. Their d-orbitals allow for bonding beyond 8 e-. There are also other exceptions to the octect rule, like Group 13 elements, H, He, Li, and Be. The octet rule is a guideline, not a hard fast rule!

[yazminedesan1F]

it depends on the element usually

[Maya Khoury]

central atoms can have an expanded octet, less than an octet, or an odd number of electrons! an example of the exception with odd number of electrons would be the molecule nitrous oxide (NO) which has 11 total electrons. oxygen would have 6 lone pair electrons plus the single bond electrons, while nitrogen will only have 3 lone pair electrons plus the single bond of electrons. Common examples for elements with less than an octet are Boron and Beryllium. And expanded octets can happen beginning with the n=3 principal quantum number, where the d orbitals become available (l=2)!

[Bree Perkins 1E]

Can elements such as iodine exceed the octet rule? Can it form double and triple bonds even though it has 7 valence e-?

[Maria Zamarripa 1L]

All atoms have to follow the octet rule unless they are able to have an expanded octet. Elements in period 3 or after are able to hold more than 8 electrons.

[Adam Yaptangco 1D]

Central atoms can have fewer than 8 atoms or more than 8 atoms depending on the circumstances. If an element has access to d-orbitals (group 3 and beyond), then there can be more than 8 electrons on the central atom.

[Amanda 1A]

is there a rule to know when some atoms are okay with having less than 8 electrons? or should we just memorize some of them and hope for the best?

[Kara Justeson 1B]

In response to the question above asking when it's ok to have less than 8 electrons, I think you just have to look at the formal charge and see what makes it the closest to neutral. I'm not completely sure though.

[Molly Oakes 1A]

Usually, but some elements can have expanded octets. I believe elements after Ne on the periodic table can have expanded octets.

[Andrea Raymundo 1B]

is there a rule to know when some atoms are okay with having less than 8 electrons? or should we just memorize some of them and hope for the best?

i think it is just memorization but its basically just group 13 and H, He, Li, Be

[John Kim Lec3Dis3L]

is there a rule to know when some atoms are okay with having less than 8 electrons? or should we just memorize some of them and hope for the best?

i think it is just memorization but its basically just group 13 and H, He, Li, Be

This actually showed up in another post I think, and don't quote me on this but the general rule seems to always be group 13 and periods 1 to 3. This, however, is for having less or more electrons than the octet rule.