Question #417da
1 Answer
Mar 26, 2017
There are 3 hydrogens but only one carbon so alkyl groups can lose electrons to carbon atoms along a chain of such atoms.
Explanation:
In methane, carbon forms four covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms. C is just a little more electronegative than H, so the electrons in the bonds are all pulled a little towards the carbon.
When such an electron-rich carbon-centered methyl group attaches to other compounds it behaves as electron donor. This is called hyperconjugation:
