How can you tell the number of covalent bonds an element can form?

The number of bonds for a neutral atom is equal to the number of electrons in the full valence shell (2 or 8 electrons) minus the number of valence electrons. This method works because each covalent bond that an atom forms adds another electron to an atoms valence shell without changing its charge.

> b takes place in the gas phase in an isothermal tubular reactor. the feed is one mole of a per one mole of c, an inert. the entering temperature and pressure are 427°c and 10 atm, respectively. the gas constant r = 0.08206 atm · l/mol · k.