Each carbon atom in compounds normally shares each of its four valence electrons to make covalent bonds to other atoms, including other carbon atoms, in the compounds. However, this does not necessarily mean that each atom makes four bonds, because carbon often makes what are called "double" and "triple" bonds to other atoms. In a double bond, one carbon atom shares two electrons rather than a single electron in a bond to another atom, which also shares two electrons rather than a single electron to form the bond. In a triple bond, three electrons are contributed by each bonded atom. Therefore, each carbon atom can make up to four bonds, but often makes fewer than four.
Carbon makes four bonds with oxygen in carbon dioxide.
Each carbon atom can make 4 bonds to other atoms, even when 'alone' as in methane (CH4, 4 single bonds) or carbon dioxide (CO2, 2 double bonds).
Carbon 4Hydrogen 1
Carbon is in Group V. Thus, it needs 4 more electrons so as to achieve the octet structure in its valence shell. As such, carbon has make at most 4 single covalent bonds. The least number of covalent bonds carbon can make is 2 double bonds. We do not see an example of carbon forming 1 covalent bond involving the sharing of all 4 of its valence electrons.
A carbon atom can form 4 single covalent bonds
Carbon makes four bonds with oxygen in carbon dioxide.
Each carbon atom can make 4 bonds to other atoms, even when 'alone' as in methane (CH4, 4 single bonds) or carbon dioxide (CO2, 2 double bonds).
Carbon 4Hydrogen 1
The most common form is the single bond, carbon atoms can also form double bonds or triple bonds.
4
Carbon is in Group V. Thus, it needs 4 more electrons so as to achieve the octet structure in its valence shell. As such, carbon has make at most 4 single covalent bonds. The least number of covalent bonds carbon can make is 2 double bonds. We do not see an example of carbon forming 1 covalent bond involving the sharing of all 4 of its valence electrons.
2
A carbon atom can form 4 single covalent bonds
The simplest alkane, methane (CH4), has 4 covalent bonds. So for the first carbon, start with 4 covalent bonds and then add 3 of each carbon after that.
Carbon has four valence electrons, each of which can be shared to form four single bonds. This means that it is possible to have two double bonds.
6 C-H bonds 3 C-C bonds 3 C=C bonds (note: the carbon -carbon bonds are resonating and thus each C-C bond has bond order 1.5 )
one carbon atom in C2H2 forms four bonds one bond with hydrogen and a triple bond with other carbon.