The Power of Carbon: 4 Carbon Bonds

[nil1996]

Can carbon form four bonds with another carbon?

 

[DrClaude]

The only possibility for a quadruple bond between two carbon atoms would be the C₂ molecule, as no other bonding to additional atoms would be possible. And C₂ is only doubly bonded:

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Wikitexts/UC_Davis/UCD_Chem_110B/Theories_of_Electronic_Molecular_Structure/Homonuclear_Diatomic_Molecules

 

[sjb-2812]

.. or is it? http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/news/2012/january/carbon-carbon-quadruple-bond.asp

 

[DrClaude]

.. or is it? http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/news/2012/january/carbon-carbon-quadruple-bond.asp

I stand corrected. Thanks for the link.

 

[DrDu]

I wouldn't consider this "long-bond" a real bond as it is also much weaker than a true bond. But as it is only a concept you are of course free to do so.