Organic Chemistry - Carbon Electronic Structure

Description:

Tetravalency Carbon is a tetravalent, i.e., it has 4 valence electrons and forms 4 covalent bonds.

Covalent bonds are formed between atoms of similar electronegativity, such that sharing of electrons take place.

Lewis dot structure of carbon compounds can be drawn by −

• Finding the total number of valence electrons of all atoms.

• Use electron pairs to form bond between atoms.

• Add the remaining electrons to atoms to fulfil octet.

For example, in CH₃F,

• the total no. of valence electrons of C(4) + H(1 × 3) + 7 = 14

• 8 electrons are required in bonding, thus remaining electrons = 6

• Since C,H satisfy valence electrons, the remaining 6 e^- are added to F.