Covalent Bonding in Carbon

A methane molecule (CH₄) is formed when four electrons of carbon are shared with four hydrogen atoms as shown below.

Versatile Nature of Carbon

Tetravalency, and Catenation The fact that carbon can form single, double, and triple bonds demonstrates its versatility. It can also form chains, branching chains, and rings when joined to other carbon atoms.

Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and a few additional elements make up organic molecules. Organic compounds, on the other hand, are significantly more numerous than inorganic compounds that do not form bonds.

Carbon is a chemical element with the atomic number 6 and the symbol C. It’s a versatile element that can be found in a wide variety of chemical combinations. Carbon’s versatility is best appreciated through properties like tetravalency and catenation.

• Tetravalency: Carbon has a valency of four so it is capable of bonding with four other atoms of carbon or atoms of some other mono-valent element.
• Catenation: The property of carbon element due to which its atom can join one another to form long carbon chains is called catenation.

Mp, Bp and Electrical Conductivity

Covalent compounds:

1. Are molecular compounds
2. Are gases, liquids or solids
3. Have weak intermolecular forces
4. Have low melting and boiling points
5. Are poor electrical conductors in all phases
6. Are mostly soluble in nonpolar liquids