Methane (CH4) is a gas that is found in small quantities in Earth’s atmosphere. Which type of bonds does methane have, and why does one carbon atom bond with four hydrogen atoms? In three to five sentences, explain your answer in terms of valence electrons and electronegativity. explain in 9th grade vocabulary and use no sources
Methane has covalent bonds because it is made up of non-metal elements (carbon and hydrogen). Covalent bonds form when atoms share their valence electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Carbon has four valence electrons and hydrogen has one, so carbon can share its four valence electrons with four hydrogen atoms, forming four covalent bonds. This allows both carbon and hydrogen to have a full outer shell of electrons, making the molecule more stable. Methane is a stable molecule, and the bonding occurs due to the attraction between the positively charged hydrogen and the negatively charged carbon, which is determined by the difference in electronegativity.
