A chemical reaction produces formaldehyde, CH2O. Carbon is in Group 14, oxygen is in Group 16, and hydrogen is in Group 1 on the periodic table. In one or two sentences, describe the bonds found in a molecule of formaldehyde in terms of valence electrons.

Answer 1

In a molecule of formaldehyde (CH2O), the carbon atom shares four of its valence electrons (four bonds) to form two single bonds with two hydrogen atoms and one double bond with the oxygen atom, which involves sharing two pairs of electrons. This arrangement allows carbon to achieve a full octet, while hydrogen achieves full valence through sharing, and oxygen also completes its octet through the double bond with carbon.