"Carbon prefers to share its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements…
"Carbon prefers to share its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements rather than gaining or losing the valence electrons in order to attain noble gas configuration." Give reasons to justify this statement.
Solution
If carbon atom gains four electrons to form C4- anion, it would be difficult for its nucleus with six protons to hold on to ten electrons.
If carbon atom loses four electrons to form C4+ cation, it would require large amount of energy to remove four electrons leaving behind a carbon cation with six protons in its nucleus holding on to just two electrons.