Chap e r 7 I Covalent Bonding inmolei T repulsive upe nucleusI electron cloud The Nucleus electron attractions are greater than the nucleus nucleus and electron electron repulsions resulting in a net attractive force that binds the atoms together Close ups Too close t00 far optimally spaced HH Key Take aways if the atoms are too close strong repulsions occur if the atoms are too far apart attractions are Weak and NO bonding occurs When the atoms are optimally separated energy is at a minimum We should start with the atoms that have atomic numbers between 1 and 18 There is a 2 8 8 rule for these elements The first shell is filled with 2 electrons the second is filled with 8 electrons and the third is filled with 8 https www google com url sa t rct j q esrc s source web cd ved 2ahUKEwjw1Ze E Ib0AhWDpnIEHaaIBDsQFnoE CA0QAw url https 3A 2F 2 Fwww youtube com 2Fwatch 3Fv 3DzvkWkHX1rDQ usg AOvVaw3Shmh4l8At03cHuAtqR 3R0