Valence electrons are electrons on the outer-most ring that have the highest energy. An electron dot diagram shows the element symbol and dots for each valence electron. A stable atom has a full outer shell of 8 electrons, while a neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. Ionic bonding occurs when atoms gain or lose electrons to form ions, which are charged atoms that conduct electricity when melted or dissolved in water. Covalent bonding happens when atoms share electrons to form molecules or molecular compounds, which have lower melting and boiling points than ionic compounds. Polar covalent bonds share electrons unequally, while nonpolar covalent bonds share electrons equally. Alloys are mixtures of metals and other elements that are usually stronger and less