Valency of an element is a measure of its combining power with other atoms when it forms chemical compounds or molecules. Carbon has four valence electrons and here a valence of four.
The valency of Carbon depends on the following factors:
- To complete the octate, either carbon gains four electrons or loose four electrons.
- However, if Carbon gains electrons then it would be hard for the nucleus to hold four additional electrons as carbon atom is very small in size.
- If Carbon losses its electrons then it required a large amount of energy to remove four electrons of the nucleus.
- Carbon makes four covalent bonds and attains the noble gas configuration by sharing it’s valence electrons.