[haber101]

1. According to the valence bond theory, how many covalent bonds are predicted for a carbon atom? Why?


Can someone please explain this.

Thanks.

[RMGC]

a ground state carbon atom has two unpaired electrons available for bonding.  These two electrons lie in the P orbitals(1s²2s²2p²).  Therefore it is predicted that two covalent bonds are predicted for a carbon atom.  However carbon atoms bond to have four covalent bonds (ex CH4).  this is because a ground state carbon first hybridizes so that its 2s orbital and 2p orbital combine to form 4 sp^3 hybridized orbitals.