What is the maximum number of double bonds that a carbon atom can form?
A)4
B)1
C)0
D)2
E)3

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A carbon atom can form a double bond with one other atom, and since each carbon atom has four valence electrons, it can form up to four double bonds. However, in practice, a carbon atom usually does not form more than two double bonds because formation of more double bonds would distort the molecule's geometry and create instability. Therefore, the correct answer is D, which indicates that a carbon atom can form a maximum of two double bonds.

What Is the Maximum Number of Double Bonds That a Carbon