Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Other covalent compounds
Methane
(natural gas) is a gas whose molecules
contain atoms of carbon and hydrogen. The electron
structures are:
Cl
Cl
6
C 2,4
1
H 1
The carbon atom needs four more electrons to attain
the electron configuration of the noble gas neon. Each
hydrogen atom needs only one electron to form the
electron configuration of helium. Figure 3.22 shows
how the atoms gain these electron configurations by
the sharing of electrons. You will note that only the
outer electron energy levels are shown. Figure 3.23
shows the shape of the methane molecule.
2 chlorine atoms
Cl
Cl
chlorine molecule (Cl
2
)
Figure 3.21
The electron sharing to form the single covalent bond in Cl
2
molecules (sharing outer electron shells only).
H
H
H
H
C
C
H
H
H
H
carbon atom
4 hydrogen atoms
methane molecule (CH
4
)
Figure 3.22
Formation of methane.
