CHEM 1113 Study Guide - Final Guide: Alkene, Alkyne, Cycloalkane
Document Summary
15. 2-explain each statement in terms of atomic properties: carbon engages in covalent rather than ionic bonding. Ca(cid:396)(cid:271)o(cid:374)"s ele(cid:272)t(cid:396)o(cid:374)egati(cid:448)ity is (cid:373)id(cid:449)ay (cid:271)et(cid:449)ee(cid:374) the (cid:373)ost (cid:373)etalli(cid:272) a(cid:374)d (cid:374)o(cid:374)(cid:373)etal elements of period 2. To attain a filled outer shell, carbon forms covalent bonds to other atoms in molecules, network covalent solids and polyatomic ions: carbon has four bonds in all its organic compounds. Since carbon has four valence shell electrons, it forms four covalent bonds to attain an octet: carbon forms neither stable cations, like many metals, nor stable anions, like many nonmetals. Two noble gas configurations, he and ne, a(cid:396)e e(cid:395)ually (cid:374)ea(cid:396) (cid:272)a(cid:396)(cid:271)o(cid:374)"s configuration. To reach the he configuration, the carbon atom must lose 4 electrons requiring too much energy to form the c4+ cation. This is confirmed by the fact that the value of the ionization energy for carbon is very high.
