Question

use your knowledge of valence electrons and bond formation to complete the following description. (2 points)
one carbon atom (group 14) bonds with 4 hydrogen atoms (group 1) to form the covalent molecule
methane (ch₄). the carbon atom shares with each hydrogen atom, forming

Explanation:

Carbon (Group 14) has 4 valence electrons. Hydrogen (Group 1) has 1 valence electron. In covalent bonding (as in methane, \(CH_4\)), atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Carbon needs 4 more electrons to fill its outer shell, and each hydrogen needs 1 more. So, the carbon atom shares one pair of electrons (or one electron pair, which is equivalent to a single covalent bond) with each hydrogen atom, forming a single covalent bond (or just a covalent bond, but specifically a single bond here).

Answer:

The carbon atom shares \(\boldsymbol{\text{one pair of electrons}}\) (or "one electron pair") with each Hydrogen atom, forming \(\boldsymbol{\text{a single covalent bond}}\) (or "a covalent bond" – but more precisely, a single bond since it's one shared pair per H - C interaction in \(CH_4\)).