Question

Which statement best explains why carbon bonds to four hydrogen atoms to form methane but to only two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide?(1 point)
Responses

Hydrogen shares electrons with carbon, but oxygen transfers its electrons.
Hydrogen shares electrons with carbon, but oxygen transfers its electrons.

The carbon in methane has more valence electrons to share than the carbon in carbon dioxide.
The carbon in methane has more valence electrons to share than the carbon in carbon dioxide.

Hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.
Hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.

The carbon in carbon dioxide is stable, with fewer valence electrons than the carbon in methane.

Answer 1

Hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.

Explanation: Carbon has four valence electrons and needs four more to fill its octet. Each hydrogen can share one electron (so carbon bonds to four H), while each oxygen shares two electrons (so carbon bonds to two O, forming double bonds).