Formaldehyde is an organic compound. Each molecule includes two hydrogens (H) atoms, one oxygen (O) atom, and one carbon (C) atom. Below are the dot structures for each of these elements. Which diagram shows how the covalent bonds most likely form in a formaldehyde molecule?

Make sure to explain your answer pls.

(A) first option

Explanation & Proof:

Bonds are formed to satisfy the octet rule, which states that an atom needs 8 valence electrons to be stable, with the exception of hydrogen and helium, which only need 2 valence electrons. Valence electrons are the outer electrons.

An easy way to solve this is to count the valence electrons in the options.

Count all the electrons surrounding one letter (which represents the atom). Each should have a full valence shell:

Also, make sure that the structure is correct***. In the dot diagrams:

Therefore, hydrogen should be sharing 1 electron, carbon should be sharing 4, and oxygen should be sharing 2:

In option A, carbon shares 1 of its electrons with the hydrogen atoms, and the hydrogen atoms share 1 electron with the carbon atom. The Hydrogen atoms are now full, and the carbon atom now has 2 more electrons, with 6 valence electrons.

Now both the carbon and oxygen atoms have 6 valence electrons. Each needs 2 more valence electrons to be stable, so they share these 2 with each other. All the atoms are now stable and happy with their full valence shells.

:Done

***This HAS to be done. For example, if O was the one sharing with the H atoms and C, O and H would have their full shells before C could get some, leaving C out with his sad little unfilled-shell. Or if H decided to share with C first, before the H atoms, either the H atoms wouldn't get any electrons or only one would get an electron, still leaving C unfilled. The structure is very important. Also make sure you have all the atoms described: 2 H, 1 C, and 1 O.

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