4 of 54 of 5 Items
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 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.
The carbon in carbon dioxide is stable, with fewer valence electrons than the carbon in methane.
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.
Skip to navigation
1 answer
The correct response to the question is:
Hydrogen shares one valence electron with carbon, and oxygen shares two valence electrons.
This is the best explanation for why carbon forms four bonds with hydrogen in methane, where each hydrogen atom shares one electron with carbon, and two bonds with oxygen in carbon dioxide, where each oxygen atom typically shares two electrons with carbon (forming double bonds).
1 answer
1 answer
1 answer
1 answer