The statement which best explains why carbon bonds to four (4) hydrogen atoms to form methane but to only two (2) oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide is: Hydrogen shares a single (one) valence electron with carbon while oxygen shares two (2) valence electrons.
A chemical bond can be defined as the forces of attraction that are existing between ions, crystals, atoms or molecules and they are mainly responsible for the formation of chemical compounds.
Hence, a chemical bond refers to a force holding atoms together and binding ions, crystals, or molecules together, in order to form a chemical compound.
Valence electrons can be defined as the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of the atom of a chemical element.
Methane comprises of an atom of carbon and four (4) hydrogen atoms while carbon dioxide comprises of an atom of carbon and two (2) oxygen atoms.
Basically, hydrogen only shares a single (one) valence electron with carbon with carbon to form methane because of the [tex]sp^3[/tex] hybridization.
On the other hand, oxygen is able to share two (2) valence electrons with carbon to form carbon dioxide.
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