Question

covalent bonding - examples
hz
1 hydrogen atoms
h • h •→ h : h
h - h
clz
2 chlorine atoms
:cl• :cl•→:cl:cl:
:cl - cl:
hcl
1 hydrogen + 1 chlorine
h• :cl•→ h:cl:
h - cl:
nh₃
1 nitrogen + 3 hydrogens
•n•
h • h • h •→ h:n:h
h - n - h
|
h
covalent bonding - questions
ch₄
1 carbon + 4 hydrogens

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze carbon and hydrogen valence electrons

Carbon has 4 valence - electrons and hydrogen has 1 valence - electron.

Step2: Determine covalent bonds

Carbon will share its 4 valence - electrons with 4 hydrogen atoms, each sharing 1 electron.

Step3: Write Lewis structure

The Lewis structure is $H:\underset{H}{\overset{H}{\underset{\cdot \cdot }{\overset{\cdot \cdot }{C}}}}:H$.

Step4: Write structural formula

The structural formula is $H - C - H$ with two more $H$ atoms bonded to the central $C$ atom, i.e., $CH_4$ has a tetrahedral structure and can be written as

$$\begin{matrix} & & H\\ & & |\\ H - & C & - H\\ & & |\\ & & H \end{matrix}$$

Answer:

Lewis structure: $H:\underset{H}{\overset{H}{\underset{\cdot \cdot }{\overset{\cdot \cdot }{C}}}}:H$, Structural formula:

$$\begin{matrix} & & H\\ & & |\\ H - & C & - H\\ & & |\\ & & H \end{matrix}$$