The valency of carbon is calculated by determining the number of electrons it needs to gain or lose to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Understanding Carbon's Electron Configuration
Carbon, with an atomic number of 6, has 6 electrons. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p². This means carbon has:
- 2 electrons in its first shell (1s²).
- 4 electrons in its second shell (2s² 2p²), which is its outermost or valence shell.
Determining Carbon Valency
According to reference Q1, carbon has four valence electrons in its outermost shell. To achieve a stable octet (8 electrons) in its outermost shell, carbon needs to either gain or lose four electrons. Instead of gaining or losing electrons, carbon tends to share electrons with other atoms to form covalent bonds.
Carbon's Four Valency
Since carbon can share four electrons with other atoms, it has a valency of four. This means it can form four covalent bonds.
- Example: In methane (CH₄), carbon forms four single covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms.
- Example: In carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon forms two double covalent bonds with two oxygen atoms.
Key Points about Carbon Valency
- Carbon's valency is always 4.
- It can form single, double, or triple covalent bonds.
- This tetravalency is crucial to organic chemistry, allowing carbon to form a vast diversity of molecules.
Summary Table
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 6 |
| Valence Electrons | 4 |
| Valency | 4 |
