Question

Choose the correct option based on the statements given below:

Statement 1: Carbon always shares electrons or forms a covalent bond with other elements.

Statement 2: $C^{4+}$ and $C^{4-}$ ions are highly unstable.

• A. Both statements are correct but statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement 1
• B. Both statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1
• C. Statement 1 is incorrect
• D. Statement 2 is incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Both statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1

$C^{4-}$ is unstable because it would be difficult for the nucleus with six protons to hold on to ten electrons.

For the formation of $C^{4+}$ ion a huge amount of energy would be needed to remove four electrons. The size of $C^{4+}$ ion gets extremely small and it becomes unstable.

Carbon overcomes this problem by sharing its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements. Not just carbon, but many other elements form molecules by sharing the electrons in a similar manner. It leads to the formation of covalent bonds.