Question

Explain why carbon is tetravalent instead of divalent

Answer 1

carbon is tetravalent because of 4 valence shell electron either to donate or to accept.
example - CH4

Answer 2

Carbon has 6 electrons. In the first shell only 2 electrons can be accommodated. So now we are left with 4 electrons, which are accommodated in the second shell, which is the outermost shell of carbon atom. Since the outermost shell of carbon atom consists of 4 electrons, Carbon is tetravalent.