Question

What is the maximum number of hydrogen atoms required to attain the octet configuration by carbon?

• A. 5
• B. 4
• C. 3
• D. 2

Answer 1

The correct option is B

4

The valency of hydrogen is one and the valency of carbon is four.
Hydrogen has one valence electron and carbon has four. Thus hydrogen will require two electrons to attain duplet configuration and carbon will share one of its electrons with hydrogen.

But still there are three more unshared electrons left out with carbon. So, it can bond with three other hydrogen atoms.
Thus, one carbon can bond with a maximum of four hydrogen atoms.