Carbon achieves noble gas configuration in methane by sharing its four valence electrons with four hydrogen atoms, forming four single covalent bonds. This allows carbon to attain a stable octet configuration, similar to noble gases.
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Carbon achieves a noble gas configuration in methane (CH₄) by forming four covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms. Carbon has four valence electrons and needs four more to achieve a stable octet, similar to the noble gas configuration. In methane, carbon shares each of its valence electrons with a hydrogen atom, forming four sigma (σ) bonds. This sharing completes the outer electron shell of carbon, giving it eight electrons and achieving a stable configuration resembling the noble gas neon. The resulting molecule, CH₄, is tetrahedral, with carbon at the center and four hydrogen atoms surrounding it, each connected by a single covalent bond.