Name: Cycloalkanes: Their Physical Property
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 26 s
Description: Cycloalkanes are types of alkanes that have one or more rings of carbon atoms in their structure. Let us learn about their physical properties.

Question

Carbon has four electrons in its valence shell. How does carbon attain stable electronic configuration?

Accepted Answer

Carbon has four electrons in its outermost shell and needs to gain or lose four electrons to attain noble gas configuration. If carbon were to gain or lose electrons:
1 It could gain four electrons forming C^4- anion. But It would be difficult for the nucleus with six protons to hold on to ten electrons, i.e., four extra electrons.
2. It could lose four electrons forming C⁴⁺ cation. But it would require a large amount of energy to remove four electrons leaving behind a carbon cation with six protons in its nucleus holding on to just two electrons.

The carbon atom overcomes this problem by sharing its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements. The two positive nuclei, due to the protons, of both atoms, are mutually attracted to the shared negative electrons between them — the covalent bond. They share the electrons in a way that gives a stable noble gas electron arrangement. Hence, the carbon attain stable electronic configuration by forming compounds mainly by covalent bonding.

A K Srivastava Solutions for Chapter: Carbon and Its Compounds, Exercise 3: Practice Questions

A K Srivastava Chemistry Solutions for Exercise - A K Srivastava Solutions for Chapter: Carbon and Its Compounds, Exercise 3: Practice Questions

Questions from A K Srivastava Solutions for Chapter: Carbon and Its Compounds, Exercise 3: Practice Questions with Hints & Solutions

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