Question

How many single bonds can a carbon atom form?

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know and understand the concept of bonding and what determines the number of bonds an element forms with other elements. The attractive force which holds various constituents such as atoms and ions together in different chemical species is called a chemical bond. The valence electrons determine the number of bonds an atom can form. The bonding between electron pairs are called covalent bonds. Carbon atom belongs to group 4 of the periodic table with atomic number 6 whose covalency should be focussed to calculate the number of single bonds it can form.

Complete step by step answer:
We need to remember that the basic rule followed by atoms during bonding is the octet rule. According to this rule, main group elements tend to bond in such a way, either by losing, gaining or sharing electrons such that each atom has $8$ electrons in its outermost (valence shell). This craving of elements to satisfy its octet is the main reason for the chemical bonding. The valence electrons can be determined by writing the electronic configuration of the element.
The electronic configuration of Carbon whose chemical symbol is $C$ and atomic number is $6$ has the electronic configuration $1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^2}$ . Hence, it is clear that it has $4$ electrons in its valence shell. These $4$ electrons can involve covalent chemical bonding. Therefore, it can form four covalent single bonds with other atoms. The simplest example to show the four single bonds which a carbon atom can form with neighboring atoms is methane $\left( {C{H_4}} \right)$. The bonding is shown as follows:

Thus, the number of single bonds a carbon atom can form is 4.

Note: It must be noted that carbon is called a tetravalent element means it can form four bonds with other atoms. When two atoms share one electron pair, they are said to be bonded by a single covalent bond. Similarly, by the sharing of two pairs of electrons, i.e., a double covalent bond. Oxygen molecule \[\left( {{O_2}} \right)\] is an example of double bonding. Carbon does not have the capacity to form double bonds.