Chemistry
Give reasons for the following:
A molecule of methane has four single covalent bonds.
Answer
The valency of C is 4 and that of H is 1. Carbon needs four electrons to attain stable octet and hydrogen needs one electron to attain it's stable duplet state. Hence, one carbon atom shares four electron pairs - one with each of the four atoms of hydrogen. Hence, forms four single covalent bonds.
Electron Dot Structure :
Related Questions
Explain with the help of electron dot diagrams the formation of the following molecules, stating the valency of each element involved.
(a) Hydrogen
(b) Chlorine
(c) Oxygen
(d) Nitrogen
(e) Water
(f) Methane
(g) Carbon tetrachloride
(h) Ammonia
(i) Carbon dioxide
[at. nos. H = 1, C = 6, N = 7, O = 8, Cl = 17]
Give reasons for the following:
Molecules of hydrogen and chlorine have single covalent bonds between their atoms while oxygen has a double covalent and nitrogen a triple covalent bond respectively.
Give reasons for the following:
Formation of ammonia involves one atom of nitrogen sharing three electron pairs one with each of the three atoms of hydrogen.
Explain the terms :
(a) Lone pair of electrons
(b) Coordinate bond
Explain diagrammatically the lone pair effect of:
(a) The nitrogen atom of the ammonia molecule leading to the formation of ammonium ions [NH4]+
(b) The oxygen atom of the H2O molecule leading to formation of hydronium [H3O]+ and hydroxyl ions [OH]-