Answer to Question #105161 in General Chemistry for Kenrick Lee

Question

Explain why carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine form covalent bonds with hydrogen to give CH4, NH3, H2O, and HF, respectively. (Hint: Focus on the number of hydrogen atoms needed in each molecule).

Answer 1

Mentioning covalent bonds is not entirely correct. Covalent bonding implies that electrons are “common.” In acceptor atoms, an electron transfers from one to another. However, this can be omitted. The most obvious way are the Lewis formulas (diagrams of circles, points, and sticks).

Building a chemical bonds associated with the principle of minimum energy.

Based on this, it is also considered that the energy of the completed electron shells is minimal.

1s2 and 2s22p6 - сompleted shells minimal