Final answer:
Carbon forms four covalent bonds in organic compounds, due to its four valence electrons. It can create an array of structures with single, double, or triple bonds. Carbon's versatile bonding capabilities underpin the diversity of organic chemistry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of covalent bonds that a carbon atom forms in organic compounds is four. This characteristic arises from carbon's four valence electrons, which are available to form bonds with other atoms. Carbon's ability to establish up to four covalent bonds allows it to create a vast array of structures, ranging from simple molecules like methane (CH4), which has four single covalent bonds, to more complex ones involving double covalent bonds or even triple bonds.
In addition to forming chains and rings by bonding to itself, carbon can also bond with many other types of atoms, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and the halogens, to produce diverse organic molecules. For instance, carbon dioxide (O=C=O) is formed by carbon making two double covalent bonds with oxygen atoms. The versatility of carbon bonding is a fundamental concept that underlies all of organic chemistry, allowing for the creation of the enormous variety of organic compounds found in nature and synthesized in laboratories.