How can the chemical formula for methane (CH4) be explained if carbon has two paired and two unpaired electrons?

-The carbon atom is extremely reactive and emits an electron from its s orbital in order to bond with four different hydrogen atoms.

-The carbon atom becomes excited and pairs the electrons in the p orbital, which creates two unfilled orbitals available to accept one electron from four different hydrogen atoms.

-The hydrogen atom promotes an electron from the s orbital into the p orbital, allowing it to bond with the carbon atom and another hydrogen atom.

-The carbon atom promotes one electron from the s orbital into the p orbital, which creates four half-filled orbitals available to accept one electron from four different hydrogen atoms.

Methane CH4 is molecule with 4 C-H bonds and adopts a tetrahedral geometry.

Now, The valence electron configuration of C = 2s²2p²

H = 1s¹

The electrons are paired in the 2s orbital whereas there exits 2 unpaired electrons in the 2p-orbital.

In order to form four bonds with the 4 H atoms in CH4, we need 4 unpaired electrons. These are created when an electron from the 2s orbital gets promoted to the 2p orbital. This results in the mixing of the 2s and 2p (three 2p orbitals) forming 4-sp3 hybrid orbitals on the C atom. Each of the four hybrid orbitals then go on to form a sigma bond with each of the four 1s orbital of the H atom.

Ans: (d) The carbon atom promotes one electron from the s orbital into the p orbital, which creates four half-filled orbitals available to accept one electron from four different hydrogen atoms.