Carbon is atomic number 6, a non-metal, and the backbone of all living things.
Quick check: Which household material is almost pure carbon?
Answer: Graphite in a pencil lead.
Electronic configuration: 2,4. Its outer shell holds 4 electrons and needs 4 more for a stable octet. Instead of losing or gaining 4, carbon shares all 4 with other atoms. Therefore it forms four covalent bonds and shows valency 4.
Carbon bonds to itself again and again, creating long chains, rings, and branched structures.
Octane \(C_8H_{18}\) in petrol is an eight-carbon chain. Name another catenated molecule.
Let’s unpack the trio of superpowers:
Carbon makes four covalent bonds, letting it connect with many atoms simultaneously.
Carbon atoms join to themselves forming chains, rings, or branches, creating countless frameworks.
A compact nucleus gives strong, stable bonds, so large molecules stay intact.
What is the valency of carbon?
How many electrons must carbon share to complete its octet?
Carbon has a valency of four because it forms four covalent bonds to complete its octet.
Remember: carbon has four outer electrons and needs four more to reach eight, so its valency is four.
Drag each formula into the correct category based on its bond type.
Saturated
Unsaturated
Saturated compounds have only single bonds; unsaturated compounds contain at least one double or triple bond.
Carbon is element 6; its valency 4 lets it bond with four atoms.
Carbon atoms join to themselves, building long, branched or ring chains.
Small size plus tetravalency creates an enormous variety of carbon compounds.
Single C–C bonds give saturated compounds; double/triple bonds make them unsaturated.