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Covalent bonding

Non-metals often bond by sharing electron pairs. Each shared pair is one covalent bond, and both atoms count the shared electrons in their outer shell. Carbon has four valence electrons and needs four more to get eight. In methane, carbon shares one pair with each of four hydrogen atoms. Carbon then has eight electrons around it, and each hydrogen has two, like helium. The molecule is neutral, and the bonds sit inside the molecule.

Symbols

Example

Carbon makes four bonds in methane.

Each bond is two electrons, so carbon has $4 \cdot 2 = 8$ electrons in its outer shell.

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Part of Chemistry 1: Chemical bonds.