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An atom is much more stable with 2 electrons in its first shell. Hydrogen has only 1 electron, so two atoms of hydrogen combine to form a H2 molecule, which enables each of them to share electrons. This allows them to behave as if they each had 2 electrons in the shell.

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14y ago
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11y ago

First of all, we need to understand something about atomic structure. For the purposes of this article, the simple classic model will do, where protons and neutrons occupy the center of the atom (known as the "nucleus") and electrons buzz around them in a cloud (known as "orbitals"). Protons are positively charged particles and neutrons have no charge, giving the nucleus an overall positive charge. Electrons have a negative charge. In an atom with an overall charge of zero, there are as many electrons as protons. Stay awake, the answer's coming up.

The number of protons determines what element an atom is. If we could somehow add a proton to a nucleus, we'd change the atom into a different element. For example, carbon, familiar to us in the form of graphite and diamonds, has twelve protons. If we could add a proton to the nucleus, there'd be thirteen, which would make it nitrogen, a clear gas that comprises about 75% of our atmosphere. (OK, that was simplified, but we won't go into isotopes here.) Needless to say, adding or subtracting protons is rare. On the other hand, electrons come and go like hookers at a Democratic Convention.

The electrons are organized into orbitals, or shells, that can be thought of as surrounding the nucleus like nested Russian dolls. For the most part, it takes eight electrons to fill an orbital. Exception: the first orbital, which takes only two electrons.

Atoms like to have their orbitals filled to capacity, even if by rights they don't have enough electrons to do so. (Atoms don't really "like" and "want" things, but let's not get technical.) For example, hydrogen, with one proton and one electron, wants one more electron, which would fill the first orbital with two electrons. How to come up with another electron? There's a simple, elegant answer: sharing. Two hydrogen atoms each put their electrons into a "common area" so both can claim them. Voila, each atom now has a filled first orbital, even though overall there's only one electron per atom. What's more, the two atoms are now bonded together to maintain this stable arrangement. This is called a "covalent bond" and is the way most atoms stick together. Since each hydrogen atom had to "borrow" one electron to fill its orbital, this is known as a single covalent bond. The resultant molecule is called H2.

Oxygen has six electrons in its outermost orbital, two shy of eight. It wants two more. To get them, the oxygen atom will "share" two of its six electrons with another oxygen atom. In other words, each oxygen atom keeps four electrons but puts two into the "common area." Since each oxygen atom antes up two electrons, there's a total of four in the "common area," which each oxygen atom gets to claim, filling its outer orbital. Since each atom had to borrow two electrons, this is called a double covalent bond. A double bond is stronger than a single bond and it's why most free oxygen is found in the form O2.

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13y ago

2 electrons- because hydrogen is a diatomic element.

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6y ago

Two electrons are shared.

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Q: Why must two oxygen atoms share four electrons?
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Why do two oxygen atoms must share four electrons when they form a covalent bond?

Atoms undergo chemical bonding in order to achieve stable valence shells. In order for oxygen atoms to accomplish this when they bond together, they share two pairs of valence electrons, which is a double bond.


What The double bond between carbon atom and two oxygen atoms has two characteristics what are they?

The answer is c. Valence electrons are shared between oxygen atoms & D. Four valence eletrons are shared


How many electrons does carbon atoms share?

This question seems a bit unclear. Perhaps it meant something like: "how many electrons can be shared with carbon atoms?" Anyway, a carbon atom can share 4 electrons with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.


Why would some atoms share more than one pair of electrons?

Atoms are always trying to get a full valence shell (outer shell of electrons) to make themselves stable. Hydrogen and Helium only need two electrons to do this, but the other elements need eight electrons in their valence shell. Atoms try to accomplish this in the easiest way possible, using single bonds. Sometimes, though, this doesn't work. A common example of double bonding is carbon dioxide. Carbon has four electrons in its valence shell and wants to have eight. That means it wants other atoms to share four electrons with it so it can fill its shell. The two oxygen atoms that it bonds to when it becomes carbon dioxide have six electrons in their valence shell and want eight. That means they want to share two electrons each with another atom so they can have eight electrons in their valence shell and be "full". The atoms work together, sharing electrons to fill each other's valence shells, and each of the two oxygens form a double bond with carbon. The carbon atom gets two electrons from each oxygen (four total) to add to its own four to make a total of eight electrons (a full valence shell). Each oxygen gets two electrons from the carbon atom to add to its own six, making a total of eight electrons (a full valence shell). Basically, atoms share more than one pair of electrons in double or triple bonds because it's the best way for them to fill their valence shell.


What is a double covalent bond?

a double covalent bond is when four atoms that share two electrons.

Related questions

Why do two oxygen atoms must share four electrons when they form a covalent bond?

Atoms undergo chemical bonding in order to achieve stable valence shells. In order for oxygen atoms to accomplish this when they bond together, they share two pairs of valence electrons, which is a double bond.


How many other pairs of atoms can carbon share its electrons with?

a carbon atom can share electrons with up to four other atoms.


What The double bond between carbon atom and two oxygen atoms has two characteristics what are they?

The answer is c. Valence electrons are shared between oxygen atoms & D. Four valence eletrons are shared


What is the main difference in covalent boning within molecules of diatomic chlorine and diatomic oxygen?

The chlorine atoms share two electrons between themselves, while the oxygen atoms share four. This can alternatively be stated as a single bond between the two chlorine atoms and a double bond between the two oxygen atoms.


How many electrons does carbon atoms share?

This question seems a bit unclear. Perhaps it meant something like: "how many electrons can be shared with carbon atoms?" Anyway, a carbon atom can share 4 electrons with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.


Why would some atoms share more than one pair of electrons?

Atoms are always trying to get a full valence shell (outer shell of electrons) to make themselves stable. Hydrogen and Helium only need two electrons to do this, but the other elements need eight electrons in their valence shell. Atoms try to accomplish this in the easiest way possible, using single bonds. Sometimes, though, this doesn't work. A common example of double bonding is carbon dioxide. Carbon has four electrons in its valence shell and wants to have eight. That means it wants other atoms to share four electrons with it so it can fill its shell. The two oxygen atoms that it bonds to when it becomes carbon dioxide have six electrons in their valence shell and want eight. That means they want to share two electrons each with another atom so they can have eight electrons in their valence shell and be "full". The atoms work together, sharing electrons to fill each other's valence shells, and each of the two oxygens form a double bond with carbon. The carbon atom gets two electrons from each oxygen (four total) to add to its own four to make a total of eight electrons (a full valence shell). Each oxygen gets two electrons from the carbon atom to add to its own six, making a total of eight electrons (a full valence shell). Basically, atoms share more than one pair of electrons in double or triple bonds because it's the best way for them to fill their valence shell.


When two atoms share four electrons what kind of covalent bond is this called?

A double bond


What is a double covalent bond?

a double covalent bond is when four atoms that share two electrons.


The double bond between a carbon atom and two oxygen atoms (a molecule of carbon dioxide) has two characteristics. what are they?

Valence electrons are shared between oxygen atoms, Four valence electrons are shared.


How many paired electrons are there in an atom of oxygen?

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The bond between two oxygen atoms (a molecule of oxygen air) has two characteristics. What are they?

The answer is c. Valence electrons are shared between oxygen atoms & D. Four valence eletrons are shared


What type of bond do atoms share electrons?

In covalent bonds, electrons are shared. In ionic bonds, electrons are transferred.