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Disclaimer: Sorry if this is a noob question, I am a high school chem student.

So I was reading my textbook in preparation for the midterm, and it talked about exceptions to the octet rule.

I understand that they exist, and what they are, but how are the chemicals structurally stable?

I also know that they are reactive, but that still doesn't help.

How do they exist?

I was thinking something like only under high pressure/heat, but I can't find anything to back that up. Amazingly, google hasn't help.

Can somebody please explain?

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  • $\begingroup$ Also, feel free to edit my tags. I am new here. $\endgroup$ – Riker Jan 15 '16 at 2:11
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    $\begingroup$ Octet rule is less absolute than you seem to think. Sure, it would be nice to have a full octet, but what if the electrons are just not there? Then we'll have to do without, that's all. $\endgroup$ – Ivan Neretin Jan 15 '16 at 5:49
  • $\begingroup$ Search for 'octet rule' here. There are a whole bunch of questions which will answer yours. $\endgroup$ – bon Jan 15 '16 at 8:35
  • $\begingroup$ related chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/228/… $\endgroup$ – Mithoron Jan 15 '16 at 12:13
  • $\begingroup$ @IvanNeretin Okay. I didn't know that, and assumed the atoms just wouldn't form a molecule in that case. $\endgroup$ – Riker Jan 15 '16 at 16:43

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