CBSENEETJEEClass 10
What is the valency of carbon?
Answer
The valency of carbon is 4.
The working
Electronic configuration
Carbon has atomic number 6, so its configuration is 2, 4 with four electrons in the outermost shell.
Combining capacity
Having 4 valence electrons, carbon shares all four to complete its octet, giving a valency of 4.
Tetravalency
This ability to form four covalent bonds is called tetravalency of carbon.
Example
In CH₄ (methane), carbon shares electrons with four hydrogen atoms, confirming its valency of 4.
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