Question
sugar is covalent compound (C6H12O6) made of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms bonded together.
Describe how a covalent bond forms between the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms to make the sugar compound.
Hint....Talk about what happens to the valence electrons in the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms
Describe how a covalent bond forms between the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms to make the sugar compound.
Hint....Talk about what happens to the valence electrons in the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Covalent bonds form when atoms share valence electrons to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas. In the case of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), which consists of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms, we can analyze how these atoms bond together.
### Valence Electrons
1. **Carbon (C)**: Carbon has four valence electrons (in its outermost shell). To achieve a full outer shell configuration (which requires eight electrons, according to the octet rule), carbon needs to share four additional electrons.
2. **Hydrogen (H)**: Each hydrogen atom has one valence electron and needs one more electron to complete its outer shell (which can only hold two electrons), thus achieving a stable configuration.
3. **Oxygen (O)**: Oxygen has six valence electrons and needs to share two additional electrons to fill its outer shell, which will give it eight electrons in total.
### Formation of Covalent Bonds
- **Carbon and Hydrogen**: In glucose, each carbon atom forms covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms. Since carbon can form four bonds, it typically bonds with hydrogen atoms in a 1:1 ratio. Each bond involves the sharing of one valence electron from carbon and one from hydrogen, resulting in four C-H covalent bonds for each carbon in glucose.
- **Carbon and Oxygen**: Each carbon atom also bonds with oxygen atoms. Oxygen typically forms two covalent bonds because it needs two additional electrons to fill its outer shell. In glucose, the carbon atoms bond with oxygen to form C-O covalent bonds. The sharing of electrons between carbon and oxygen helps both atoms achieve a more stable electron configuration.
- **Oxygen and Hydrogen**: Oxygen also forms bonds with hydrogen atoms. In glucose, each oxygen typically forms a bond with hydrogen (this can be seen in the hydroxyl (–OH) groups present in the molecule). This involves the sharing of one valence electron from each atom.
### Structure of Glucose
In a glucose molecule, the arrangement of these bonds results in a complex structure:
- A single glucose molecule has six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms arranged specifically in a ring or linear form (the cyclic structure is more common).
- The carbon atoms are interconnected, and they form bonds with both hydrogen and oxygen atoms, allowing for the molecule's specific shape and properties.
### Conclusion
Through the sharing of valence electrons, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms form covalent bonds that result in the formation of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆). This process ultimately allows each atom to reach a more stable electron configuration, and these interactions are fundamental for the structure and functionality of the sugar molecule in biological systems.
### Valence Electrons
1. **Carbon (C)**: Carbon has four valence electrons (in its outermost shell). To achieve a full outer shell configuration (which requires eight electrons, according to the octet rule), carbon needs to share four additional electrons.
2. **Hydrogen (H)**: Each hydrogen atom has one valence electron and needs one more electron to complete its outer shell (which can only hold two electrons), thus achieving a stable configuration.
3. **Oxygen (O)**: Oxygen has six valence electrons and needs to share two additional electrons to fill its outer shell, which will give it eight electrons in total.
### Formation of Covalent Bonds
- **Carbon and Hydrogen**: In glucose, each carbon atom forms covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms. Since carbon can form four bonds, it typically bonds with hydrogen atoms in a 1:1 ratio. Each bond involves the sharing of one valence electron from carbon and one from hydrogen, resulting in four C-H covalent bonds for each carbon in glucose.
- **Carbon and Oxygen**: Each carbon atom also bonds with oxygen atoms. Oxygen typically forms two covalent bonds because it needs two additional electrons to fill its outer shell. In glucose, the carbon atoms bond with oxygen to form C-O covalent bonds. The sharing of electrons between carbon and oxygen helps both atoms achieve a more stable electron configuration.
- **Oxygen and Hydrogen**: Oxygen also forms bonds with hydrogen atoms. In glucose, each oxygen typically forms a bond with hydrogen (this can be seen in the hydroxyl (–OH) groups present in the molecule). This involves the sharing of one valence electron from each atom.
### Structure of Glucose
In a glucose molecule, the arrangement of these bonds results in a complex structure:
- A single glucose molecule has six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms arranged specifically in a ring or linear form (the cyclic structure is more common).
- The carbon atoms are interconnected, and they form bonds with both hydrogen and oxygen atoms, allowing for the molecule's specific shape and properties.
### Conclusion
Through the sharing of valence electrons, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms form covalent bonds that result in the formation of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆). This process ultimately allows each atom to reach a more stable electron configuration, and these interactions are fundamental for the structure and functionality of the sugar molecule in biological systems.