Explain the formation of covalent bonds in methane molecule (CH_(4)).

1.	Explain the formation of covalent bonds in methane molecule (CH_(4)).
Answer» Solution :Carbon is a central atom in the molecule of methane. The ATOMIC number of carbon is 6, so its electronic CONFIGURATION is `{:(K,L),(2,4):}`. Thus, carbon has four electrons in its L shell. Therefore, it needs four more electrons to fill the L shell. Carbon shares its four VALENCE electrons with one electron each of K shell of four hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of methane `(CH_(4))`. As a result, carbon atom of methane ATTAINS the electronic configuration of its nearest noble gas neon (Ne), which has EIGHT electrons in its L shell, while hydrogen atom attains the electronic configuration of its nearest noble gas helium (He), which has two electrons in its K shell. Here, these valence electrons are depicted by dots or crosses is shown as follows :

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