Elements forming ionic compounds attain noble gas configuration by either gaining or losing electrons from their outermost shells.
Elements forming ionic compounds attain noble gas configuration by either gaining or losing electrons from their outermost shells. Give reason to explain why carbon cannot attain noble gas configuration in this manner tn form its compounds. Name the type of bonds formed in ionic compounds and in the compounds formed by carbon. Also give reason why carbon compounds are generally poor conductors of electricity.
1 Answers
Carbon has 4 electrons in its outermost shell. It cannot lose 4 electrons to form C4+ because very high energy is required to remove 4 electrons.
lt cannot gain 4 electrons to form C4- ions because it is difficult for 6 protons to hold on to 10 electrons.
(i) Ionic/Electrovalent Bonds.
(ii) Covalent bonds.
(iii) There are no charged particles in carbon compounds and hence poor conductors of electricity.