Question

In methane, the valency of carbon is:

Answer 1

Valency of carbon in methane:

• Valency is the property of an element that determines the number of other atoms with which an atom of the element can combine.
• Methane is the simplest saturated hydrocarbon with the chemical formula${\mathrm{CH}}_4$.
• The atomic number of carbon$\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$ is $6$. so its electronic configuration is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^2$.
• So the valence electrons of carbon is $4$.
• Methane is formed when carbon shares its $4$ valence electrons with $4$ hydrogen atoms.
• Hence, the valency of carbon in methane is $4$.