Question

Why carbon show tetravalency????

Answer 1

carbon shows tetravalency because it has 4 electrons in its valence shell and it needa 4 electrons to complete its octet and to attain the electronic configuration of neon.


         hope this helps u..........

Answer 2

Carbon has a total of 6 electrons in it's atom. These electrons are arranged in the order (2,4) taking up two orbits according to the rules of electronic configuration. Any atom must have 8 electrons in it's outermost orbit or shell and as carbon only has 4 electrons in it's outermost or 'valence shell' it tries to exchange electrons in order to attain the state where it has a complete orbit of 8 electrons. And so Tetra corresponding to 4, carbon is said to show tetravalency