Final Answer:
To find how many bonds an element can make, the best option is to refer to the periodic table, thus the correct option is C.
Explanation:
The number of bonds an element can make depends on its valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom. These electrons are involved in bonding with other atoms to form molecules. The number of valence electrons can be determined by looking at the periodic table.
In the periodic table, elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. For example, elements in group 1 have 1 valence electron, while elements in group 2 have 2 valence electrons. This pattern continues across the periodic table, with elements in group 13 having 3 valence electrons, group 14 having 4 valence electrons, and so on.
Once we know the number of valence electrons, we can determine how many bonds an element can make. This is because each bond requires 2 valence electrons – one from each atom – to form a stable molecule. For example, an element with 1 valence electron, such as hydrogen (H), can form 1 bond, while an element with 4 valence electrons, such as carbon (C), can form 4 bonds.
In cases where an element has more than 4 valence electrons, it can form multiple bonds. This is where the concept of octet rule comes into play. According to the octet rule, elements tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration with 8 valence electrons, similar to noble gases. For instance, oxygen (O) has 6 valence electrons, but it can form 2 bonds by sharing 2 electrons with other atoms.
In some cases, the number of bonds an element can make may not directly correspond to the number of valence electrons. This is because the electronegativity of elements also plays a role in determining the number of bonds. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. Elements with high electronegativity, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine, tend to form more bonds compared to elements with low electronegativity, such as carbon and hydrogen.
In conclusion, to find how many bonds an element can make, we need to refer to the periodic table to determine the number of valence electrons. However, the number of bonds may also be influenced by the electronegativity of the element. By understanding these concepts, we can determine the bonding capacity of any element and predict its behavior in chemical reactions.