From left, an orange H, then 1 black dot above 1 orange dot, then a black O with 2 black dots both above and below, then 1 black dot above 1 orange dot, then an orange H.

Refer to the diagram to complete the sentence with the correct numbers.

When hydrogen shares electrons with oxygen, the outermost shell of the hydrogen atoms are full with
electrons and oxygen’s valence shell is full with
electrons. Because the valence shells of these atoms are full, the atoms are stable.

1 answer

In the context of the shared electron configuration you've described, when hydrogen shares electrons with oxygen, the outermost shell of the hydrogen atoms is full with 2 electrons (since each hydrogen atom can hold 2 electrons in its valence shell). For oxygen, which shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms, its valence shell becomes full with 8 electrons (accounting for its own 6 valence electrons plus the 2 shared electrons from hydrogen).

Therefore, the completed sentences would be:

"When hydrogen shares electrons with oxygen, the outermost shell of the hydrogen atoms are full with 2 electrons and oxygen’s valence shell is full with 8 electrons."