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)

Question

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

Answer 1

The statement that best explains why carbon bonds to four hydrogen atoms to form methane but to only two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide is:

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

This statement highlights the nature of bonding in each case: hydrogen forms a single bond with carbon, while oxygen forms a double bond, allowing carbon to achieve stability with fewer oxygen atoms compared to hydrogen atoms.