Question

Choose the correct option based on the statements given:

Statement 1: Carbon shares electrons to form covalent bond with other elements.

Statement 2: ${\text{C}}^{4+}$ and ${\text{C}}^{4-}$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 wrong but statement 2 is correct.
• D. Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is wrong.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Both statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1.

Carbon does not donate or accept electrons to obtain noble gas configuration as ${\text{C}}^{4-}$ and ${\text{C}}^{4+}$ are unstable in nature.

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

${\text{C}}^{4+}$ is unstable because it would require an excessively large amount of energy to remove four electrons.

Since both ${\text{C}}^{4-}$ and ${\text{C}}^{4+}$ ions are unstable in nature, carbon overcomes this problem by sharing its valence electrons with other atoms to obtain the nearest noble gas electronic configuration.

Hence, the given statements are correct and statement 2 is correctly explaining statement 1.