What determines the number of covalent bonds an atom can cre

What determines the number of covalent bonds an atom can create You can select more than one option A the number of protons in the nucleus B the state of the outermost electron shell C the excess or shortage of electrons in electron shells D the number of protons and neutron in the nucleus

Solution

The correct answers are B and C, That is, The state of outermost electron shell and the excess or shortage of electrons in electron shells.

For example , if we take Carbon, its atomic number is 6. So, number of electrons will be distributed as, 2 in the innermost shell and 4 in the outershell. Therefore to complete its octet configuration, it needs 4 more electrons and become stable. Thus it will form 4 covalent bonds.

So both the factors determine the number of covalent bonds that can be formed.