Molecular chemistry studies molecules made up of various combinations of atoms. The octet rule is a fundamental fact of molecular chemistry, where atoms bond to gain eight electrons in their outermost shell. Chemical reactions occur when compounds interact, and they are constantly happening in our bodies.
Molecular chemistry is the chemistry of molecules, covering most of chemistry as a whole. Molecules are made up of various combinations of atoms, the basic building blocks of everything around us. There are 92 elements that occur naturally on Earth, as well as 25 man-made elements, which are created in small quantities in particle accelerators and nuclear reactors. Of the 92 natural elements, various arrangements of 12 make up 99% of all rocks and soils, while arrangements of 5 make up 99.97% of the atmosphere. Other elements are found in trace amounts, usually one part per million or less.
The foundations of molecular chemistry are based on qualities of atoms called valence. Each atom is made up of small particles called electrons that orbit around a nucleus made up of particles called protons and neutrons. The orbit of these electrons is “shell” designated by the laws of physics: the first shell has a capacity of two electrons, the second has a capacity of 6, the third 10, the fourth 14, the fifth 18, the sixth 22 and the seventh 26.
If an atom has “too few” electrons, such that its outermost electron shell (also known as its orbital) has more or fewer than eight electrons, it “wants” to throw off electrons or gain them by bonding with another atom. The tendency to “want” eight electrons in the outer shell, the same number found in noble gases like helium (the most stable elements), is called the octet rule, a fundamental fact of molecular chemistry. These forces are dictated by the laws of electromagnetism.
To visualize molecular chemistry, here is an example. A common molecule is salt, NaCl, or sodium chloride. Salt consists of two atoms bonded to each other in an atomic bond. Sodium’s outermost electron shell has only one electron, but has a capacity for ten. The outermost shell of chlorine has seven electrons, but a capacity for ten. When the two bond together, they gain eight electrons in their collective outermost shell, satisfying the octet rule. The octet rule is satisfied in countless molecules. These links can easily be represented in pictures using Lewis dot diagrams.
When atoms combine together into stable structures, they form molecules, which are also called compounds. Pure compounds or mixtures of compounds with uniform properties are called a substance. Compounds of a substance can interact with other compounds, resulting in situations called chemical reactions. Chemical reactions are constantly going on around us, especially in our bodies, which are veritable cauldrons of chemical reactions. When we eat food, it is to provide our body with molecules that can undergo chemical reactions to release energy for its functioning.
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