Buddhism Can Not Be Categorized As A Religion - 1149 Words

Buddhism is a religion unlike any other in what they believe in and the teachings they follow. Before reading Damien Keown’s Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, I did not know much about Buddhism at all. The only things I knew is that people worship a Buddha, and that Tiger Wood’s is a Buddhist. Damien Keown helped me to understand the Buddhism belief’s and teaching’s, as well as help me get a better understanding of what Buddhism really is. I realized that Buddhism is almost more of a way of life than a religion. Although, it is hard to fully classify Buddhism as a religion, way of life, philosophy, or code of ethics. Buddhism cannot quite be categorized as a â€Å"religion† because it lacks the belief in a central God, or creator God.†¦show more content†¦The Buddha uses these teachings and spiritual practices to help people end their suffering. A critical spiritual practice in Buddhism is meditation. Right Meditation is the eighth path in the Eightfold Path, and is in the Meditation division. The Eightfold Path is the fourth of Buddha’s Four Noble Truths. I think that Buddhist Meditation can be helpful to Buddhist and non-Buddhists alike. I know I could personally benefit from it because I have a busy schedule from golf and school. They are both stressful at times and the meditation could help calm me down on and off the golf course. I think it could help everyone who has busy schedules, so that they can slow down and calm themselves during a stressful day. In the book Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings, he explains different ways of meditation. He talks about walking meditation and how enjoyable and beneficial it can be. He says to walk slowly, and either by yourself or with friends. Thich Nhat Hanh says in the book, â€Å"Walking meditation is really to enjoy the walking—walking not in order to arrive, just for walking† (Hanh 33). The idea of just meditating on walking and enjoying the pre sent moment sounds like a great way to calm yourself and focus on the present. â€Å"Therefore you have to shake off all worries and anxieties, not thinking of the future, not thinking of the past, just enjoying the present moment† (Hanh 33) Thich Nhat Hanh’s chapter about the Tangerine Party caught my

How to Asses Mental Illness Free Essays

The ability for patients to access mental health services these days are more wide ranging than ever before. This is in part due to the fact that the realm of mental health, once simply governed by physicians, is now peopled by staff of all different types and disciplines. In addition, many mental health professionals are now multiply credentialed, so it is not impossible to see a mental health professional who is all at once a family and marital therapist, a chemical dependency practitioner and a social worker. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Asses Mental Illness or any similar topic only for you Order Now All these elements only serve to improve the ability of patients/clients to receive quality mental health services, whether it be in a large institutional setting, a community mental health center or in a private clinical office. But what are the different types of mental health professionals who are trained in the identification and treatment of patients with mental health issues? There are many, but for the matter of clarity and brevity, we will focus on just three. Licensed clinical social workers are one type of mental health professional who may be assigned a clinical case. These are individuals who have received graduate level training in the assessment and management of patients with mental illness. They may choose to specialize in a certain type of therapy, such as marital or family therapy or they may provide a more general practice. Clinical social workers are also found in the hospital setting, whether for psychiatric patients or medical patients and are experts in arranging for social services and referral to assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other post hospitalization care. Advanced registry nurse practitioners are one of the newer types of clinicians in the mental health field. These are nurses who have taken graduate level education which allows them to perform diagnosis and treatment for patients. Many nurse practitioners (also called ARNPs) can prescribe medications for their patients, depending on the laws of the states where they live. ARNPs are also unique in that they can open up clinical practices of their own without having to work under the auspices or licensure of a practicing physician. ARNPs provide medication and counseling services, as well as crisis intervention services. ARNPs are also found frequently in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Another type of professional who may diagnose and treat a patient with mental health issues is a clinical psychologist. These are men and women who receive post-graduate education and receive a doctorate in psychology. Psychologists are often called â€Å"doctor† but the difference is that they are not allowed to prescribe medications. Psychologists are multifaceted, and are able to diagnose and treat patients with mental health issues, as well as perform and interpret psychological testing to held aid in the diagnosis of patients with personality or learning disorders. Psychologists are usually utilized in the outpatient setting, but it is not unheard of for them to work on an inpatient mental health unit as well. While all these different clinical backgrounds are able to assess patients for the presence of mental illness, the issues which they must consider are the same from patient to patient. Whether the patient is a self-referral, court mandated or identified by a family member, before a true clinical diagnosis can be made, a thorough mental health assessment must be made. This mental health assessment includes several key issues which must be answered. First, the clinician must know what the problem is which brought the patient in for evaluation in the first place. Does the patient feel sad, or depressed, or anxious? To what degree does the mood problem affect the patient†s day to day life? Are they able to go on about their daily business, or are they incapable of holding a job or caring for themselves or their families, because of the severity of the illness. Does the patient actually perceive there is a problem, or has the patient been referred by a medical provider, family member, or friend? The high coincidence of mental health problems and substance abuse makes it necessary for the mental health professional to assess if there is any drug or alcohol abuse issues here. How long has the patient had these symptoms, and are they getting worse, better, or staying the same. A family history is also important, especially as it pertains to issues of mental illness within the family, or a history of physical/sexual or emotional abuse. Above all, when any mental health professional is assessing a patient for mental illness, he or she must assess if the patient has any thoughts of hurting himself or anyone else. This is almost the most important question to be asked of any patient who is being assessed for mental health problems, and when answered in the positive, must be dealt with immediately. As we are discussing suicidal ideation, it is important for any clinician to understand who is at the greatest risk of self harm. There is a disparity in the rates of suicide between men and women, in that it is more likely for a woman to express thoughts of suicide and it is more likely for a man to actually commit suicide. In fact, men over age 45 are more than four times more likely than women to kill themselves as women in the same age (National Patient Safety Agency, 2001). An unemployed man is two to three times more likely to commit suicide. Suicide is also believed to account for 20 percent of all death in young people aged 15-24 and is second only to accidental death. The prevalence of substance abuse in this age group tends to be a contributing factor to suicide rates. The additional issues of academic pressure and relationship problems, as well as possible history of physical and sexual abuse are other risk factors. Interestingly, research has also shown that youngsters who know someone who commits suicide are more likely to commit suicide (Shaffi, et. al. 1985). While issues of race and likelihood to commit suicide have been studied, the pattern changes over geographic distribution. A study done in 1993 by Briget seemed to indicate that gay men and lesbians had higher rate of suicide and attempted suicide than the general population. And, as previously mentioned, research has shown that substance abuse is a significant risk factor for suicide and suicide attempts. One study estimated that among people who abuse drugs, the risk of suicide is twenty times greater than that of the general population (Faulkner, 1997) Any discussion about mental health in the 21st Century is sure to bring some in some element of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as HIPAA. HIPAA is a federal health benefits law passed in 1996, effective July 1, 1997, which among other things, restricts pre-existing condition exclusion periods to ensure portability of health-care coverage between plans, group and individual; requires guaranteed issue and renewal of insurance coverage; prohibits plans from charging individuals higher premiums, co-payments, and/or deductibles based on health status. It also places strict limits on the type and amount of information which can be released about patients, and to whom the information can be given, and in what manner. While the privacy of patient care information is important, HIPAA can be a stumbling block to the care of patients. For example, should the patient refuse that any collateral information be obtained about his case from a family member or friend, the mental health professional is prohibited by law from making any contact with this person, even if the collateral information could be of help in the care and diagnosis of the patient. In addition, it makes it almost impossible for family members to make appointments or even ascertain that patients are getting care. Health care providers are given leeway in one manner, in that should a mental health patient make what is felt to be a credible threat against another person, the healthcare provider is then able to provide information about the threat to the person in the broadest possible terms, known as a â€Å"duty to warn†. Usually now, before a mental health professional takes on a case, he or she will have the patient sign a document explaining the patient†s rights and the clinician†s responsibilities under HIPAA. In this document, the clinician outlines most common reasons for which the clinician may have to release information about the patient†s care, such as coordinating care with another provider or even obtaining coverage information from the insurer. The patient is also generally advised that he or she may revoke all authorization at any time, but in turn the clinician may choose to discontinue treatment. In this way, both parties are protected. It should be noted, however, that HIPAA restrictions do not apply in cases where abuse is suspected, for clinical health oversight activities, for judicial reasons if evaluations are court ordered, and in cases where the care involves a workman†s compensation issue. The clinician must also provide to the patient a name and number of a person to who concerns about privacy violation may be addressed, and if all else fails, complaints may be made to the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal agency which oversees HIPAA. But should a mental health professional be incautious about the kind of information he or she chooses to release, then he or she may find that they are subject to high fines, sanctions from federally funded agencies and loss of clinical privilege. To me, HIPAA seems like the extreme end of the pendulum, and does little to take into account common sense. I believe that in the future, different legislation will be made to modify the tone of HIPAA and allow a bit of clinical common sense to be used as well. Until that time, mental health practitioners will have to tread lightly and practice with care, keeping in mind at all times the needs of the patient and the rule of the law. So in summary, there are many kinds of mental health professionals, of all different backgrounds and disciplines. It would not be difficult to find a therapist or other mental health professional that would be able to help a client with his or her problems. All are highly qualified. All receive excellent training, and the high degree of diversity allows the mental health patient to almost have a consumer attitude when shopping for mental health care. No matter what kind of practitioner a patient chooses, the patient should be sure that he or she has chosen one who is well versed in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. New laws put into affect do much to protect the rights of the patient, but in some ways can tie the hands of the clinical provider. But ultimately, rules are in place to protect both the patient and the practitioner. How to cite How to Asses Mental Illness, Essay examples

Potential Implications for Exchange Rate †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Potential Implications for Exchange Rate. Answer: Introduction: The years of overheating would have a economic growth in excess of 3.2%, employment rate not above 5% along with inflation rate potentially above 2.5% (Abel et. al., 2011). Thus, overheating is observed in two broad period. One of the block consisting of three years namely Year 1,23 while the other block consists of two years namely Year 8 9. Role of fiscal policy Fiscal policy plays a critical role in the dampening of the aggregate demand which is critical for managing overheating of the economy. It typically happens when the supply is not able to keep up with the increase in demand thus leading to higher inflation and job creation but despite that a shortage continues to persist (Krugman Wells, 2012). Such a situation, if not checked could lead to the inflation rate spiraling out with potential implications for the foreign exchange rate along with the prevalent interest rate in the market (Mankiw, 2012). In the given case, to curtail aggregate demand, the government would need to act on multiple fronts. Firstly, it needs to decrease the disposable income available with the people which could be achieved through raising of taxes (both direct and indirect). Besides, as raising the interest rate is within the realm of monetary policy, the fiscal policy would instead ensure that there the there are restrictions on loans specially given to sectors and sections of the society that tend to enhance the inflation further (Dombusch, Fischer Startz, 2012). Additionally, the government also needs to cut down its own expenditure as the higher the government expenditure, higher would be money available with the money and thus higher would be the aggregate demand (Beck et. al., 2011). However, if the government curtails the spending or makes it more targeted, then the disposable income with the people will also witness a gradual decline which would lead moderate the demand by causing a leftward sh ift as indicated below (Koutsoyiannis, 2013). In the above figure, it is apparent that dampening the aggregate demand leads to lower inflation and lower GDP growth rate. However, this growth rate is more sustainable as the economy can growth without experiencing overheating (Krugman Wells, 2012). Also, it is imperative to note that in the process, an enabling role also would need to be played by the tight monetary policy which would tend to increase the interest rate thereby providing incentive to the people to save and disincentive to not borrow (Mankiw, 2012). References Abel, B.A., Bernanke, B., Croushore, D.D., Kneebone, D.R., (2011). Macroeconomics (6thed.). Canada: Pearson Education. Dombusch, R., Fischer, S. Startz, R.(2012).Macroeconomics (10thed.). New York: McGraw Hill Publications. Koutsoyiannis, A.(2013). Modern Macroeconomics(4th ed.). London: Palgrave McMillan. Krugman, P. Wells, R.(2012).Macroeconomics (3rd ed.). London: Worth Publishers. Mankiw, G.(2012). Principles of Macroeconomics (6th ed.). London: Cengage Learning.

Problem Solving Application †Where in the World is Disney

Introduction Disney Corporation is planning to move its operations to other parts of the world. For the company to compete favourably in these markets it has to come up with workable strategies. The targeted market is in the far- east and Australia specifically Shanghai and Sydney. Disney has a burning desire to serve as many cultures as possible all over the world.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Problem Solving Application – Where in the World is Disney? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Company’s unique sense of creativity and imagination can be well utilized to conform to the culture of both Sydney and Shanghai communities. In every place all over the world, there is always a desire to create some sense of learning within the young generation. This can be achieved through improvement of the facilities that are used to foster the love for learning. This idea gives the young people the confide nce to tackle new discoveries identified throughout the world (Fogler and LeBlanc, 2008). Brainstorm and Mind-map The following mind-map helps in generating ideas on how to approach the operations within the targeted areas. It gives valid information concerning various segments that are of great interest. In the case of Shanghai, there are some elements that must be considered to generate an idea on how to plan and approach the market. The population of Shanghai should be considered in order to determine the amount of space required to establish the operations. The average income per person should also be considered, the likes and dislikes of the community and the tourists. Majority of the young population within this area like products with cartoon pictures on them, this provides a good market base. The urban population is considered the wealthiest; however they should be grouped according to their financial ability. The criterion to be used to estimate the economic status of the m arket should be addressed. The city is reach in domestic tourism; this provides Disney Corporation with a sure and available market. Disney Corporation can do well in the entertainment sector in Sydney, majority of the children in Sydney enjoy watching Disney’s animated films. However, the older generation must be convinced that the films are free from staff that may endanger their children’s social lives. Problem Statement In both markets majority of the rural population live in poverty, this is a limitation on Disneyland. This is a problem since Disney Corporation will not be able to profit from this market. The city lacks middle income earners, this shows that there is a very big disparity between the rich and the poor.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The area is dominated by communist and this puts a lot of risk to Disney Corporation unless they give the g overnment a big share to control. There is also the risk of terrorist attack and wars which is a big threat to tourism within the region, and also the risk to natural disasters since China is a country prone to Natural calamities. In the entertainment sector, Disney Corporation is considered to present their films in a discriminating manner encouraging anti-socialization between cultural groups; they present their films in an acceptable manner. The films are considered to abuse cultural integrity. There is the challenge of using meaningful scribbles to suit every local culture served, this might seem a challenge especially when it comes to Chinese way of writing. The use of magic does not at interest at all majority of the cultures in the far-east (Brand Channel, 2009). K-T Problem Analysis SITUATION APPRAISAL: The market demand for Disney Corporation is growing weaker due to the nature of services it offers to consumers. A lot of questions have been raised on the cultural integrity of Disney productions and the impact it has on the younger generation. PROBLEM ANALYSIS: The situation within the cities provides some risks that have to be faced by Disney Corporation before penetrating the market. In Shanghai there is the problem of natural disasters and also the risk of facing it off with a communist society where there is a big disparity between the rich and the poor. Then there is the sharp criticism from the Sydney community which believes that though Disney’s animated films attract millions supplies, they are more stereotypical. This is believed to promote social division amongst individual races and communities. DECISION ANALYSIS: One of the best actions to be taken by Disney is to first of all monitor the economic and general performance of some related companies involved in the same targeted opportunity, and then evaluate on what steps they need to take in order to deal with the shortcomings. This presents a good channel on which point they should start exploring the market. POTENTIAL PROBLEM ANALYSIS: The question lies on how to convince the general community that the services provided are culturally friendly and means no harm to children. The other issue how much finances will be required to cater for the risks involved which includes terrorism, wars, community risk and natural disasters (Sawyer, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Problem Solving Application – Where in the World is Disney? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More K-T Situation and Decision Analysis Decision Analysis Decision statement: It is a good move for Disney Corporation to explore Shanghai and Sydney Markets. This would make sure that there is an increase in income and revenue collection, it will also ensure that Disney has a wider market to satisfy presenting it with opportunity to build its brand name (Fogler and LeBlanc, 2008). Objectives to be achieved by the decision Must To develop a strong image amongst the consumers To develop a strong economic and social status amongst different communities having diverse cultural set-up. Wants To ensure that every consumer all over the world is reached by the services offered. To attract and serve foreign, urban and rural markets To nurture close ties with the governments within the countries they serve. List of alternative or options (Fogler and LeBlanc, 2008). Alternative solutions A B C Parks Hotels and resorts Animated films ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION A B C Musts 1. Develop strong image brand. 2. Strong economical and social status Go Go Go Not Go Go Not go Wants weight Rating score Rating Score Rating score 1.Services to all – 9 consumers GO NOT GO NOT GO 2.serve foreign, – 7 urban and rural markets GO NOT GO NOT GO 3.Nurture close ties 5 with Govt GO NOT GO NOT GO Concise Decision Statement The company must incorporate social responsibility to its audience so as to gai n the ability to penetrate market as fast as possible. However, there are several benefits involved that outweigh the disadvantages, this makes it very ideal for Disney Corporation to stage its foot in these regions, focus on the rate of return and face the challenges which will ultimately lead to more gain. Recommendation of Disney’s location Disney Corporation should first of all monitor at a close range the performance of other companies offering the same services in these areas. This is of advantage since it could give Disney the chance to evaluate and set its investment priorities right. It should first of all start by building a theme park to assess the market potential then include other projects like hotels later. The shanghai government also regulates the number of films to be released in the market annually; this might pose a big challenge to Disney’s animated films (Brand Channel, 2009).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Disney Corporation should first of all test the market’s worth through the building of parks. This may help in determining the actual size and status of the market since it serves both local population and foreigners. It is easier to influence local community and foreigners to visit parks than hotels or buy animated films. In addition Disney should put strategies on how to attract through their services, the large number of tourists that visit these areas. The amount of money it will cost to put up these projects must be calculated based on the level of risks involved. Conclusion The success of Disney Corporation has long been linked with the generation it served at an early age. This means that taking Disneyland to Shanghai will not attract much attention since their children are nurtured on a totally different culture. This may lead to poor sales because the services might not seem to be of much interest, hence better they focus on Sydney as opposed to Shanghai. Reference B rand Channel, 2009. Is Disney’s Shanghai Dream a World of Make Believe?.  Web. Fogler, H. S. LeBlanc, S., 2008. Strategies for Creative Problem Solving, Prentice- Hall, New Jersey. Sawyer, K., 2008. Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration. New York: Basic Books, Perseus Books Group. This report on Problem Solving Application – Where in the World is Disney? was written and submitted by user Elsie Guerrero to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Your Best Africa Essay Sample

Your Best Africa Essay SampleA mind-boggling collection of every facet of Africa from past, present and future, an Africa essay sample is ideal for any South African undergraduate. The benefits of an advanced Africana syllabus include being able to earn some fine degrees as well as playing an important role in shaping the cultural values of the nation. This assignment will guide you into the game plan of the essay writing process; help you understand how it is done and why it is important.Because there are many aspects of Africa that need to be tackled, your Africa essay sample should have several sections. The best way to decide what section is best for you is to take note of the subject you plan to write on. Of course, you can also choose the topic based on what you like. Some of the topics that are commonly found in African studies include; Democracy, Diversity, Economics, The Precolonial Period, Politics, Religion, International Relations, Colonialism, History, The Arts, Literatu re, Sports, Ethics, Philosophy, Foreign Policy, Political and Military Affairs and Personal Life.Once you have decided what the student's interest is and which topic you want to choose, go ahead and start researching all the resources available on the subject. Get acquainted with every African university and college in the area and visit their library and campus. If you are employed in this field, find out if there are any professors on your staff that speak good English and who are keen about your research. These few observations will help you get into the swing of things and give you the motivation you need to study effectively.After the research is completed, you need to make your research papers as the size of your paper will depend on your budget and your students' interests. You may also want to consider adding some pre-planned extras such as readings from books, newspapers, academic journals, and a thesis statement.Next, gather all the related African subjects and topics into one common essay, and not several separate essays on different aspects of Africa. This is very important as it shows a clear display of creativity. The essay sample should be well organized and contain a comprehensive outline, body and end.To get your writing ideas rolling, you may even invite some teachers and your friends over to discuss what they want to do in the future. Since you are working on an advanced African syllabus, you are under a time constraint and hence need to come up with ideas quickly.These are just a few pointers that will help you in writing an excellent Africa essay sample. But since your Africa essays will be related to an advanced Africana syllabus, you should be prepared to deal with more than just one topic.

What is Work-Life Balance Anyway

What is Work-Life Balance Anyway Work-Life Balance is one of those concepts that was assumed to be valuable up until recent years, when many people are turning the concept on its head and saying â€Å"work-life† balance is really about LIFE balance. While I agree to some extent, I don’t see the reason to toss out the concept of work-life balance altogether. To me, work-life balance is a moment-by-moment experience. I have chosen to own my own business because I have certain things I want in my life: the ability to work remotely so I can visit family and not take â€Å"vacation days†; the option to do yoga or go for a swim in the middle of the day; and the flexibility to work early in the morning or late at night. These things might not be non-negotiable, but they are important to me. For me, they create â€Å"work-life balance† or just plain â€Å"life balance.† Of course they also create challenges for maintaining that balance when things get busy in the business and threaten to infringe upon my â€Å"me† time. You might be examining for yourself what constitutes work-life balance or any sort of balance as you move toward a new job, your first job out of college, getting into college, or any other venture. Are you interested in creating a life where you work less than 40 hours per week, are not stressed out constantly, are fulfilled and have fun? If so, you have a lot of company! I don’t often write blogs based on infographics, but I found this one- Careers with Great Work-Life Balance- to be enlightening. I realize that work-life balance is just one aspect of balance; you can have the right amount of time at work vs. personal life, but then get out of balance taking care of others in your personal life when you need to be taking better care of yourself! Or you can run into challenges in your work life itself in finding balance with the types of activities you do or relationships you create. Nevertheless, here are some of the main points to consider when planning for your quality of life in relation to your work: Flexibility at Work Nine out of 10 Americans feel that their current jobs don’t afford them enough time to attend to their family’s needs: a major indicator that they do not have work-life balance. Furthermore, half of these employees believe that if they were allowed more flexibility in their jobs–with work hours, vacation days, clock management, etc.–they’d be able to perform their jobs better. Flexible schedules, in fact, have become so much in demand that the U.S. Department of Labor has devoted a whole page and many articles to the topic. Consider the things that are most important to you in terms of your working hours. Does your career path provide the flexibility you desire? Are you getting to spend enough time with your family? Can you take the vacations you want to take? Can you work from home when necessary? If you are seeking to change careers, or change the structure of your current work life, it will help to know what you want in terms of schedule flexibility so you can create a structure that provides the work-life balance you need. What are the Indicators of Successful Work-Life Balance? According to the OECD Better Life Index, an organization dedicated to promoting policies that improve economic and social well-being, popular indicators of successful work-life balance include: Total hours worked per week Time devoted to leisure Average pay Growth potential Flexibility Stress Are these barometers of work-life balance important to you? Will considering these factors change the way you pursue your education, your next career, or how you conduct your job search? Perhaps it will be informative to check out the jobs listed in the infographic that make top honors. You might be surprised by some of them! Creating Successful Work-Life Balance is up to You What constitutes work-life balance is subjective: what is most important to you in your work and personal life may be completely different from what matters to your friends, family or even colleagues. So define the non-negotiables in your life, then do your best to create a career path that meets your unique definition of balance. I for one can tell you it’s a constant challenge!

Why Atoms Form Chemical Bonds With Each Other

Why Atoms Form Chemical Bonds With Each Other Atoms form chemical bonds to make their outer electron shells more stable. The type of chemical bond maximizes the stability of the atoms that form it. An ionic bond, where one atom essentially donates an electron to another, forms when one atom becomes stable by losing its outer electrons and the other atoms become  stable (usually by filling its valence shell) by gaining the electrons. Covalent bonds form when sharing atoms results in the highest stability. Other types of bonds besides ionic and covalent chemical bonds exist, too. Bonds and Valence Electrons The very first electron shell only holds two electrons. A hydrogen atom (atomic number 1) has one proton and a lone electron, so it can readily share its electron with the outer shell of another atom. A helium atom (atomic number 2), has two protons and two electrons. The two electrons complete its outer electron shell (the only electron shell it has), plus the atom is electrically neutral this way. This makes helium stable and unlikely to form a chemical bond. Past hydrogen and helium, its easiest to apply the octet rule to predict whether two atoms will form bonds and how many bonds they will form. Most atoms need eight electrons to complete their outer shell. So, an atom that has two outer electrons will often form a chemical bond with an atom that lacks two electrons to be complete. For example, a sodium atom has one lone electron in its outer shell. A chlorine atom, in contrast, is short one electron to fill its outer shell. Sodium readily donates its outer electron (forming the Na ion, since it then has one more proton than it has electrons), while chlorine readily accepts a donated electron (making the Cl- ion, since chlorine is stable when it has one more electron than it has protons). Sodium and chlorine form an ionic bond with each other to form table salt (sodium chloride). A Note About Electrical Charge You may be confused about whether the stability of an atom is related to its electrical charge. An atom that gains or loses an electron to form an ion is more stable than a neutral atom if the ion gets a full electron shell by forming the ion. Because oppositely charged ions attract each other, these atoms will readily form chemical bonds with each other. Why Do Atoms Form Bonds? You can use the periodic table to make several predictions about whether atoms will form bonds and what type of bonds they might form with each other. On the far right-hand side of the periodic table is the group of elements called the noble gases. Atoms of these elements (e.g., helium, krypton, neon) have full outer electron shells. These atoms are stable and very rarely form bonds with other atoms. One of the best ways to predict whether atoms will bond with each other and what type of bonds they will form is to compare the electronegativity values of the atoms. Electronegativity is a measure of the attraction an atom has to electrons in a chemical bond. A large difference between electronegativity values between atoms indicates one atom is attracted to electrons, while the other can accept electrons. These atoms usually form ionic bonds with each other. This type of bond forms between a metal atom and a nonmetal atom. If the electronegativity values between two atoms are comparable, they may still form chemical bonds to increase the stability of their valence electron shell. These atoms usually form covalent bonds. You can look up electronegativity values for each atom to compare them and decide whether an atom will form a bond or not. Electronegativity is a periodic table trend, so you can make general predictions without looking up specific values. Electronegativity increases as you move from left to right across the periodic table (except for the noble gases). It decreases as you move down a column or group of the table. Atoms on the left-hand side of the table readily form ionic bonds with atoms on the right side (again, except the noble gases). Atoms in the middle of the table often form metallic or covalent bonds with each other.