methane is gas that is found in small quantit...

methane is gas that is found in small quantities in earths atmosphere. methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. it is a powerful greenhouse gas, flammable, and used as a fuel worldwide. construct an explanation of how carbon and hydrogen combine to form methane.\na nonmetal carbon shares valence electrons with each nonmetal hydrogen forming four covalent bonds.\nb carbon and hydrogen are nonmetals and they share their valence electrons to become ions and form ionic bonds\nc nonmetal carbon loses a valence electron and the nonmetal, hydrogen gains a valence electron to form an ionic bond.\nd hydrogen loses a valence electron to become a cation and carbon gains a valence electron to become an anion forming a covalent bond.

Answer

# Brief Explanations: Carbon and hydrogen are non - metals. In methane ($CH_4$), carbon shares its 4 valence electrons, one with each of the four hydrogen atoms, forming four covalent bonds. Ionic bonds form between a metal and a non - metal or between ions of opposite charge. Covalent bonds are formed by the sharing of electrons between non - metals. Option B is incorrect as non - metals sharing electrons do not form ionic bonds. Option C is incorrect as carbon and hydrogen do not form an ionic bond in methane. Option D is incorrect as hydrogen does not lose an electron to become a cation and carbon does not gain an electron to become an anion to form a covalent bond in the context of methane formation. # Answer: A. Nonmetal carbon shares valence electrons with each nonmetal hydrogen forming four covalent bonds.