Molecular Structure of Some Carbon Forms

Carbon is a very dynamic and even protean element. I gathered from last week's class that it's something of an acrobat, and so can contort itself to get its four valence electrons in the right place to bond with lots of other elements. So, here are a few.

In methane CH4 one carbon bonds with four hydrogens, snagging each constituent H's single valence electron to fill up it's second level P slots (it had been 4 short). If I were adept with computers I would draw it, but that can't happen. This is a covalent bond, meaning that the two elements are sharing electrons to fill their outer shells.

In Ethane C2H6, two Carbons bond together, and each joins with 3 Hydrogens. Neither Carbon ends up with a full complement of P electrons, but it's closer than when it started.

Propane C3H8, three carbons bond. Two Cs bond with three Hs, and then one C in the middle bonds with two Hs.