Question

Explain the nature of the covalent bond using the bond formation in CH₃Cl.

Answer 1

Carbon can neither lose four of its electrons nor gain four electrons as both the processes require extra amount of energy and would make the system unstable. Therefore, it completes its octet by sharing its four electrons with other carbon atoms or with atoms of other elements. The bonds that are formed by sharing electrons are known as covalent bonds. In covalent bonding, both the atoms share the valence electrons, i.e., the shared electrons belong to the valence shells of both the atoms.

Answer 2

Carbon can not lose four of its electrons or gain four electrons thereby forming hydrogen and chlorine bonds.

• The loss or gain is not possible as both processes require extra energy and make the system unstable. Thus, by sharing its four electrons with other carbon atoms or atoms of other elements, it completes its octet.
• It is known as covalent bonds that are formed by exchanging electrons. The two atoms share the valence electrons in covalent bonding, i.e. the shared electrons belong to the shells of the valence of both atoms.
• Carbon requires four electrons to complete its octet, whereas each hydrogen atom needs one electron to complete its duplet.
• Chlorine also requires the completion of the octet by an electron. All of these also share the electrons and, as a result, carbon forms three hydrogen and one chlorine bonds.