Please write TRUE or FALSE for each of the 8 statements. Thank you! Mark the following statements about carbon as true or false. A carbon atom can form up to four covalent bonds. True A carbon atom has six electrons in its outermost shell. The bond between a carbon and hydrogen atom is a polar bond. Oxygen and nitrogen have a stronger electronegativity than carbon (e.g., a strong pull on a shared electron). Bonds between carbon and other atoms are relatively unstable and readily dissociate, resulting in the formation of new molecules. The carbon backbone of a molecule is made up of a string of carbon atoms held together with either single or double bonds. The carbon backbone of a molecule comes in a variety of shapes: linear, ring-like, or highly branched. Carbon is a relatively large atom allowing it to bind to more atoms than smaller atoms would, thereby making it more versatile. Solution Answer: 1. True, a carbon atom can form up to four covalent bonds as one carbon atom has four valence electrons (in outermost shell). It is a fact that the number of valence electrons in a atom determines the number of covalent bonds it will form. Thus, each electron in carbon atom is used to form four covalent bonds with various four atoms. Example: CH4 (where one carbon atom share its outer valence electrons with up to four hydrogens) 2. False, A carbon atom has four electrons in its outermost shell. As it has atomic number six, means has total 6 electrons (two electrons in innermost shell and four in the outermost shell). 3. False, A bond between a carbon and hydrogen atom is a non-polar covalent bond. The non- polar covalent bond are the bonds between two atoms which share equal number of electron(s) with each other. Example: as in case of methane, where one carbon atom shares its 4 outer valence electrons with four hydrogens by sharing equal number of electron. In contrast, polar covalant bond are the bonds between two atoms which share unequal number of electron(s) with each other. Thus these bonds are partially ionic. 4. True, Oxygen and nitrogen have stronger electronegativity than carbon (e.g. a stronger pull on a shared electron). Electronegativity is defined as the tendency of an atom to attract a shared electron in a covalent bond towards itself. It is the result of the greater charge on the nucleus. In periodic table, the electronegativity of the element increases as we move from left to right. Nitrogen and Oxygen have greater charge on the nucleus as compared to the carbon thus, are more electronegative than carbon. 5. False, Bonds between carbon and other atoms are relatively stable and not readily dissociate, as the bonds between carbon and other atoms are relatively stable covalant bond which require large amount of energy to break them. 6.True, The carbon backbone of a molecule is made up of a string of carbon atoms held together with either single or double bonds. The Carbon atoms can share one, two or three electrons with another Carbon.

1. Please write TRUE or FALSE for each of the 8 statements.
Thank you! Mark the following statements about carbon as true or false. A carbon atom can
form up to four covalent bonds. True A carbon atom has six electrons in its outermost shell.
The bond between a carbon and hydrogen atom is a polar bond. Oxygen and nitrogen have a
stronger electronegativity than carbon (e.g., a strong pull on a shared electron). Bonds between
carbon and other atoms are relatively unstable and readily dissociate, resulting in the formation
of new molecules. The carbon backbone of a molecule is made up of a string of carbon atoms
held together with either single or double bonds. The carbon backbone of a molecule comes in a
variety of shapes: linear, ring-like, or highly branched. Carbon is a relatively large atom
allowing it to bind to more atoms than smaller atoms would, thereby making it more versatile.
Solution
Answer:
1. True, a carbon atom can form up to four covalent bonds as one carbon atom has four valence
electrons (in outermost shell). It is a fact that the number of valence electrons in a atom
determines the number of covalent bonds it will form. Thus, each electron in carbon atom is used
to form four covalent bonds with various four atoms.
Example: CH4 (where one carbon atom share its outer valence electrons with up to four
hydrogens)
2. False, A carbon atom has four electrons in its outermost shell. As it has atomic number six,
means has total 6 electrons (two electrons in innermost shell and four in the outermost shell).
3. False, A bond between a carbon and hydrogen atom is a non-polar covalent bond. The non-
polar covalent bond are the bonds between two atoms which share equal number of electron(s)
with each other. Example: as in case of methane, where one carbon atom shares its 4 outer
valence electrons with four hydrogens by sharing equal number of electron.
In contrast, polar covalant bond are the bonds between two atoms which share unequal number
of electron(s) with each other. Thus these bonds are partially ionic.
4. True, Oxygen and nitrogen have stronger electronegativity than carbon (e.g. a stronger pull on
a shared electron). Electronegativity is defined as the tendency of an atom to attract a shared
electron in a covalent bond towards itself. It is the result of the greater charge on the nucleus. In
periodic table, the electronegativity of the element increases as we move from left to right.
Nitrogen and Oxygen have greater charge on the nucleus as compared to the carbon thus, are
more electronegative than carbon.
5. False, Bonds between carbon and other atoms are relatively stable and not readily dissociate,

2. as the bonds between carbon and other atoms are relatively stable covalant bond which require
large amount of energy to break them.
6.True, The carbon backbone of a molecule is made up of a string of carbon atoms held together
with either single or double bonds. The Carbon atoms can share one, two or three electrons with
another Carbon atom to form a single, double or triple bond respectively.
7. True, The carbon backbone of a molecule comes in a variety of shapes: linear, ring-like, or
highly branched. The carbon atoms can bind to each other through covalent bonds either:
8. False, Carbon is a relatively large atom allowing it to bind to more atoms than smaller atoms
would, thereby making it more versatile. As Carbon is relatively small size atom and can form
four chemical bonds to other atoms. These chemical bond can be both polar and nonpolar
covalent bonds with various elements due to above given 1,6,7 statements. Thus, making it more
versatile.