How many atoms can a carbon atom share?
Category:
science
chemistry
It contains a carbon atom that bonds to six other atoms instead of the four we have been told carbon is limited to. Atoms form molecules by sharing electrons. Carbon has four electrons that it can share with other atoms.
Similarly, how many electrons can a carbon atom share?
four electrons
Hereof, how many atoms can carbon bond?
Carbon forms 4 bonds with other atoms. Please note that carbon need not always form bonds to four atoms. A carbon could form a double bond with an oxygen and then two single bonds to hydrogen atoms. The carbon is only bonded to three atoms, but is forming a total of four bonds (1 double and 2 singles).
Carbon has four valence electrons, so it can achieve a full outer energy level by forming four covalent bonds. When it bonds only with hydrogen, it forms compounds called hydrocarbons. Carbon can form single, double, or triple covalent bonds with other carbon atoms.