Question

which statement best explains why carbon bonds to four hydrogen atoms to form methane but to only two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide? (1 point)
○ hydrogen shares electrons with carbon, but oxygen transfers its electrons.
○ hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.
○ the carbon in methane has more valence electrons to share than the carbon in carbon dioxide.
○ the carbon in carbon dioxide is stable, with fewer valence electrons than the carbon in methane.

Explanation:

Carbon has 4 valence electrons. In methane (\(CH_4\)), each hydrogen shares one electron with carbon (total 4 hydrogens, 4 shared electrons). In carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)), each oxygen shares two electrons with carbon (2 oxygens, 2×2 = 4 shared electrons). The key is that in \(CO_2\), oxygen shares two valence electrons with carbon (as oxygen needs two more electrons to complete its octet), while in \(CH_4\), hydrogen shares one (as hydrogen needs one more to complete its duet).

Answer:

Hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.