Question

In a certain organic compound, one of the carbon atoms is bonded to four atoms. One of these is a carbon atom, and the other three are hydrogen atoms. What type of bond exists between the two carbon atoms?

A. Ionic
B. Dispersion force
C. Double covalent
D. Single covalent

Answer 1

Between the two carbon atoms exists a single covalent bond. In the question, it tells us that in a compound, one of the carbon atoms is bonded to 4 others, one of them being another carbon and the rest all hydrogens. We can deduce the compound is actually C2H6, which is an alkane; specifically ethane.

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons and as such can only have single carbon-carbon bonds since both are bonded with 3 other atoms (leaving them with no spare electrons as they only have 4).

Answer 2

The type of bond that exists between the two carbon atoms would be a single covalent bond.

Carbon atoms generally have 4 valence electrons and can therefore form bonds with multiple atoms by sharing the electrons with the atoms to reach an octet state. It also has the capacity to form double or triple covalent bonds with different atoms, including itself.

Out of the 4 valence electrons and covalent bonds that can be formed by the carbon, 3 have been formed with hydrogen. Thus only one bond is left and that is what the carbon atom can pick up. Hence, only a single covalent bond can be formed.

More on the carbon atom can be found here:  https://brainly.com/question/4704641