Question

Methane (CH4) is a gas that is found in small quantities in earths atmosphere. which type of bonds does methane have and why does one carbon Atom bond with four hydrogen Atoms? in 3 to 5 sentences explain your answer in terms of valence electrons and electronegativity.

Answer 1

Answer:

Methane is a covalent bond. Methane is a chemical compound from the bonding  one carbon atom and for hydrogen atoms. Although electronegativity increases as you go right of the periodic table, hydrogen has an electronegativity of 2.20. Chlorine has an electronegativity of 2.55. There difference in electron negativity (0.34). Therefore it is a non polar compound. If there difference was much greater, than they would form a ionic bond. Alkali metals tend to form the most ionic bond, but although hyrdogen is placed with them, it has a higher electronegativity so hydrogen is an exception.

Carbon has 4 valence electrons so it will want to gain 4 more electrons to become stable (Octet rule). Hydrogen has 1 valence electron, so it will want to lose it to become stable. Therefore, one carbon atom takes 1 electrons from 4 hydrogen atoms.