Question

how does the carbon atom complete it's octet

Answer 1

Carbon's atomic number is 6 (proton number), and amu of 12 (average mass of all isotope). We know it has six electrons, because #of protons = # of electrons. Now, you have to figure out its electronic configuration, and determine the number of valence electrons.

Answer 2

C = 1s2 2s2 2p2, so it has four electrons in its outermost shell (n =2). It can obtain four more by sharing electrons with other atoms. There is no complete ionic character in bonding, so you can think of sharing as the overlapping of electron orbitals between two atoms.

Answer 3

Through what is known as \(\sf \color{red}{covalent~bonding}\)

Answer 4

carbon has 4 electrons in the outermost shell...it cant lose or gain 4 other electrons..if this happens it wont b stable bt its impossible....so it completes its octet by sharing electrons with other and attains stability