* Valence Electrons: Carbon has four valence electrons, which are the electrons in its outermost shell that participate in chemical bonding.

* Octet Rule: Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration of eight electrons in their outermost shell (the octet rule).

* Bonding: Carbon can achieve a stable octet by forming four covalent bonds, where it shares one electron with each of four hydrogen atoms.

This results in the molecule methane (CH4), with one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms.