Jatin Khatri

A covalent bond is formed when electrons from both the participating atoms are shared equally. The pair of electrons that participate in this bonding is called a shared pair or bonding pair. The covalent bonds are also termed molecular bonds.
Carbon has atomic number 6. So its electronic configuration is ( 2,4). It has two electrons in its first (K) shell and four electrons in its second (L) shell. Like every atom, the carbon atom also tries to complete its octet (fill its outermost shell with 8 electrons). But here comes the problem, carbon has to either gain four electrons or lose four electrons. When it gains four electrons, it will acquire four negative charges and become C-4, and went it loses four electrons and become C+4. C-4 is very unstable as negatively charged carbon repels extra electrons. Both forms are very unstable and require much energy carbon completes its octet by sharing electrons with other atoms (forming covalent bonds). As a result, carbon has a unique capacity of forming chains and branches.