How do nonmetal atoms usually attain an octet in chemical reactions?

Nonmetal atoms are distinctive participants in the world of chemical reactions. These are the elements generally located on the right side of the periodic table, characterized by their high electronegativity. Electronegativity is essentially a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons. Due to this innate characteristic, nonmetals tend to seek stability by filling their valence shell—the outermost electron orbit—with electrons until they achieve eight, which is often referred to as an 'octet.'

Take, for example, atoms like oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and chlorine (Cl). They already have several electrons in their valence shells, and to hit that stable octet, they 'seek out' additional electrons. However, since nonmetals don't readily give up electrons due to their high electronegativity, they usually pursue stability through another means as opposed to metals, which often donate electrons in reactions.

Electron sharing is a harmonious arrangement between atoms where they share one or more pairs of valence electrons. It's the 'give a little, take a little' approach to achieving chemical stability. This method of electron sharing is essential amongst nonmetal atoms, because it allows them to adhere to the octet rule without outright losing or gaining electrons, which would require more energy and could yield unstable ions.

When two nonmetal atoms come close, their electronegativities gauge a potential partnership. If suitable, the atoms extend their valence electrons towards one another, creating a shared electron cloud. This communal sharing space lets each atom count the shared electrons as part of their own, thereby filling up to that desired octet without the contentious process of electron theft. This process is often visualized in Lewis structures, which show the shared pairs of electrons as lines connecting the atom symbols.

Covalent bonding is the embodiment of collaboration at the atomic scale, where nonmetal atoms unite by shared valence electrons to form molecules. This bond is the quintessential structure that holds the atoms together in a stable relationship, allowing each to reach the much-coveted octet configuration. The nature of these bonds ranges from single covalent—a single pair of electrons shared, to double and even triple, with multiple pairs shared.

Illustrating with the oxygen molecule (O2), depicted in Step 5 from the original problem, we can see that each oxygen atom shares two valence electrons, creating a double covalent bond. This not only allows them to achieve stability by completing their octet but also results in a strong bond that is not easily broken. Covalent bonds are thus fundamental in the construction of a wide array of molecules essential to life, including water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and organic compounds.