Well, Carbon has 4 Valence Electrons. I'm sure you know this, but valance electrons allow electrons to covalently bond with one another. The elements, when sharing the electrons, want to have 8 valance electrons. So carbon has 4 valance electrons so it can bond with itself, or another say 4 hydrogen [becuase hydrogen can live with 2 valance electrons]. Hope this helps. Remember: Electrons <3 8 valance electron bonds Carbon's 4 + Carbon's 4= 8 true love at first bond! OR Carbon's 4+ Hydrogen's 1 [x4] = 8 hope this help
