* Valence Electrons: Carbon has 4 valence electrons (electrons in its outermost shell). It wants to have a full outer shell with 8 electrons for stability.
* Bonding: Carbon achieves stability by forming covalent bonds with other atoms, sharing its electrons.
* Forms Compounds: Carbon is the backbone of organic molecules, and it forms countless compounds with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.
Example: A single carbon atom is very reactive and will quickly bond with other atoms to form stable compounds like carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4).
