What is the easiest way for atoms without a full valence shell to gain a full valence shell?

Most atoms do not. For those atoms that do not have a full valence shell (which usually would contain eight electrons, except for hydrogen and helium, where it would contain two), something has to change. So nature's tendency toward a full valence shell will lead to one of two things: The gain or loss of electrons.

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adioabiola adioabiola · Answer 2 · 2021-10-29T23:59:04+02:00

The easiest way for atoms without a full valence shell to gain a full valence shell is by ionization which may be a loss or gain of electrons.

Chemical bondings are only able to occur when atoms do not have a full Valence shell and in their quest for a full Valence shell are forced to either loss, gain or share electrons with other atoms.

In essence, the easiest way for atoms to gain a full Valence shell as in Noble gases is therefore;

By the loss or gain of electrons such that they become isolectronic with the closest Noble gas to them in the periodic table.

The concept above is evident when sodium loses its single outermost electron in a bid to attain electronic stability -put differently, become isolectronic with Neon, Ne.