Methane ( CH4 ) is a gas that is found in small quantities in Earth’s atmosphere. Are the bonds in methane ionic or covalent according to their electronegativities, and how can one carbon atom bond with four hydrogen atoms based on their valence electrons? In three to five sentences, explain your answer.

Answer 1

The bonds in methane (CH₄) are covalent because the electronegativity difference between carbon (2.55) and hydrogen (2.20) is small, indicating that they share electrons rather than transferring them. Carbon has four valence electrons and needs four additional electrons to achieve a full octet, while each hydrogen atom has one valence electron and needs one more to complete its duet. Thus, one carbon atom can form four covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms by sharing its electrons, resulting in a stable molecular structure. This sharing allows both carbon and hydrogen to attain a more stable configuration.