So it will try to either lose or gain electrons such that its electron configuration matches that of one of the noble gases. And this is what we call the octave rule. So the octave rule is simply the process of filling electron shells or electron orbitals in a way such that an electron configuration that matches one of the noble gases is reached. So let's do an example. So, here we have a carbon atom, and we have a fluorine atom. So this carbon atom has six protons and six electrons.