Science / Chemistry / Incomplete Octet: 1. An atom with less than eight electrons in its valence shell. 2. An atom with less than eight total bonding and nonbonding electrons in a Lewis structure, for example, B in BH3 has an incomplete oct MORE
Science / Chemistry / Octet Rule: A guideline for building Lewis structures that states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share valence electrons with other atoms in a molecule until they hold or share eight valence electrons. The oct MORE
Science / Chemistry / Free Radical: A free radical is a molecule with an odd number of electrons. Free radicals do not have a completed octet and often undergo vigorous redox reactions. Free radicals produced within cells can react with MORE
Science / Chemistry / Inert Pair: Valence electrons in an s orbital penetrate to the nucleus better than electrons in p orbitals, and as a result they're more tightly bound to the nucleus and less able to participate in bond formation MORE