3.29. Carbon Bonding http://www.ck12.org
pairs of electrons. Examples of compounds with these types of bonds are represented by the structural formulas in
theFigure3.47.
FIGURE 3.47
Q:How many bonds do the carbon atoms share in each of these compounds?
A:In ethane, the two carbon atoms share a single bond. In ethene they share a double bond, and in ethyne they share
a triple bond.
Summary
- Carbon forms covalent bonds with atoms of carbon or other elements. There is a great diversity of carbon
compounds, ranging in size from just one to thousands of atoms. - Carbon has four valence electrons, so it can achieve a full outer energy level by forming four covalent bonds.
When it bonds only with hydrogen, it forms compounds called hydrocarbons. - Carbon can form single, double, or triple covalent bonds with other carbon atoms.
Explore More
Read the article about carbon bonding at the following URL, and then make an outline of article content.
http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=60
Review
- What type of bonds do carbon atoms form?
- How are carbon’s valence electrons related to the bonds it forms?
- What are single, double, and triple carbon bonds?