Here's why:
* Carbon's Valence: Carbon has 4 valence electrons, meaning it can form 4 bonds.
* Hydrogen's Valence: Hydrogen has 1 valence electron, meaning it can form 1 bond.
* Bonding in Methane: Each of the four hydrogen atoms forms a single covalent bond with the carbon atom. This uses up all of carbon's valence electrons, leaving no electrons to form lone pairs.
Therefore, methane has no lone pairs.