Question

Carbon forms four covalent bonds by sharing its four valence electrons with four univalent atoms, e.g. Hydrogen. After the formation of four bonds, carbon attains the electronic configuration of:
(A) Helium
(B) Neon
(C) Argon
(D) Krypton

Answer 1

Hint: Count the number of electrons that carbon atom gets from hydrogen in the form of covalent bond and add that number electrons to electrons of the carbon atom.

Complete step by step answer:
* The atomic number of carbon is 6, which means carbon contains 6 electrons.
* The electronic configuration of Carbon is \[1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{2}}\].
* Carbon atom forms four covalent bonds by sharing its four valence electrons with four monovalent atoms.
* For example carbon formed four covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms (monovalent atoms).
* Now the electronic configuration of carbon is \[1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{6}}\].
* The number of electrons in a carbon atom after formation of four covalent bonds is ten (10).
* So, the electronic configuration of carbon atoms resembling the electronic configuration of Neon.
So, the correct answer is option B.
*Helium has only 2 electrons, so the option A is wrong
* Argon has 18 electrons, so the option C is wrong.
* Krypton has 36 electrons, so the option D is wrong.

Note: Don’t be confused with the words number of electrons, atomic number and atomic weight.
Atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of electrons, but the atomic weight of an atom is not equal to the number of electrons in that atom.