A neutral unbonded atom can attain complete valence octet if it achieves a stable electron configuration. This can be achieved by gaining or losing electrons until the atom's outermost electron shell is filled to its capacity, which is usually eight electrons. Atoms with a complete valence octet have noble gases configurations and are genrally stable and unreactive.

For example, consider the sodium atom (Na), which has a neutral state. Sodium has one valence electron in its outermost 2s orbital with the electronic configuration 2s^1. To obtain a complete valence octet, sodium atom can lose its 2s electron, resulting in the formation +1 cation with a stable electron configuration of Ne, 1s^22s^22p^6.