How does each carbon atom share 1 electron with 3 other carbon atoms? Doesn't carbon have to form 4 bonds because of its 4 unpaired electrons?

1 Answer
Sep 20, 2017

Carbon shares its four valence electrons in covalent compounds.

Explanation:

However, it doesn't have to share them with three other carbon atoms.

For example, in methane, it shares its electrons with four hydrogen atoms.

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In 2-methylpropane, #"C2"# shares its electrons with an #"H"# atom and three other carbon atoms.

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#"C1, C3"# , and #"C4"# share their electrons with three #"H"# atoms and #"C2"#.

In every case, a carbon atom shares four electrons and makes four bonds.