1) Electrons fill atomic shells according to set rules, with the first shell holding up to two electrons and subsequent shells holding up to eight each.
2) Atoms form ionic bonds through the transfer of electrons from metals to nonmetals, creating positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. Covalent bonds are formed by the sharing of electron pairs between nonmetallic elements.
3) Molecular polarity depends on both the individual bond polarities and the overall molecular structure. Polar bonds result from unequal electron sharing between atoms of differing electronegativity.