Assertion (A): Carbon shares its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements.
Reason (R): The shared electrons belong to the outermost shells of both the atoms and lead to both atoms attaining the noble gas configuration.
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Covalent bonding in carbon:
Carbon shares electrons (not transfers) due to its 4 valence electrons.
Sharing allows both atoms to achieve noble gas configuration (octet rule).
This explains why carbon forms millions of compounds (catenation and tetravalency).
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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The Correct Option isA
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Analyze Assertion (A).
Assertion (A): "Carbon shares its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements."
Carbon has 4 valence electrons (electronic configuration: 2,4).
It cannot lose 4 electrons to form C⁴⁺ (requires too much energy).
It cannot gain 4 electrons to form C⁴⁻ (difficult for nucleus to hold 10 electrons).
Therefore, carbon achieves stability by sharing its valence electrons through covalent bonding.
Carbon forms covalent bonds with other carbon atoms (e.g., in diamond, graphite, hydrocarbons) and with atoms of other elements (e.g., H, O, N, Cl).
Assertion (A) is TRUE.
Step 2: Analyze Reason (R).
Reason (R): "The shared electrons belong to the outermost shells of both the atoms and lead to both atoms attaining the noble gas configuration."
In covalent bonding, atoms share pairs of electrons.
Each shared electron pair contributes to the outermost shell of both atoms.
By sharing electrons, each atom effectively completes its octet (or duplet for hydrogen) and attains the stable electron configuration of the nearest noble gas.
Example: In CH₄, carbon shares electrons with four hydrogen atoms, achieving 8 electrons in its valence shell (neon configuration).
Reason (R) is TRUE.
Step 3: Check if Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).
Carbon shares its valence electrons BECAUSE by doing so, both atoms (carbon and the other atom) achieve noble gas configuration.
The driving force for sharing electrons is precisely to attain stability through noble gas configuration.
Thus, Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Final Answer: (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
