Question

Carbon has four valence electrons. How many hydrogen atoms can bond to a single carbon atom?

Answer 1

Possibly you cooked your dinner with methane gas, i.e. `CH_4`. Thus 4 hydrogen atoms bind to carbon.

Explanation:

Methane is the simplest alkane, which burns very cleanly:

`CH_4(g) + 2O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(l) + Delta`

Even given our voracious appetite for combustible carbon, there are still vast reserves of methane gas available. The challenge for engineers and chemists is to extract in a controlled and sustainable fashion.