The Octet Rule: Chemistry's Favorite Lie

The Octet Rule: Chemistry's Favorite Lie
chemistry-memes, octet-rule-memes, electrons-memes, exceptions-memes, science-education-memes | ScienceHumor.io

Chemistry teachers start with such confidence! "The octet rule is absolute! Atoms want 8 electrons in their outer shell!" Then comes the inevitable backpedaling when students learn about the exceptions...

Hydrogen: "I'm good with 2."
Transition metals: "We'll take 18, thanks."
Boron: "5 is my lucky number."
Xenon compounds: "Rules? What rules?"

It's like teaching kids that Columbus discovered America, then spending the next 10 years explaining why that's completely wrong.

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