* Octet Rule: Oxygen has six electrons in its outermost shell. It wants to have eight electrons (like the noble gases) to achieve a stable configuration.

* Sharing or Gaining Electrons: To achieve this stability, oxygen can either:

* Share two electrons with another atom (forming covalent bonds).

* Gain two electrons from another atom (forming ionic bonds).

* Stability: By sharing or gaining electrons, oxygen completes its outer shell and becomes more stable.

Examples:

* Water (H₂O): Oxygen shares two electrons with two hydrogen atoms, forming stable covalent bonds.

* Calcium oxide (CaO): Oxygen gains two electrons from calcium, forming a stable ionic bond.

In summary: Oxygen atoms are highly reactive in their elemental form. By forming compounds, they achieve a more stable electronic configuration, fulfilling the octet rule.