Question

How does each carbon atom share 1 electron with 3 other carbon atoms? Doesn't carbon have to form 4 bonds because of its 4 unpaired electrons?

Answer 1

Carbon shares its four valence electrons in covalent compounds.

Explanation:

However, it doesn't have to share them with three other carbon atoms.

For example, in methane, it shares its electrons with four hydrogen atoms.

In 2-methylpropane, `"C2"` shares its electrons with an `"H"` atom and three other carbon atoms.

`"C1, C3"` , and `"C4"` share their electrons with three `"H"` atoms and `"C2"`.

In every case, a carbon atom shares four electrons and makes four bonds.