Total number of electrons in the compound = Total number of valence electrons of (carbon + chlorine) Total number of electrons in the compound = (1 X 4) + (4 X 7) = (4 + 28) = 32 The carbon atom shares 1 electron each to form one covalent bond with every chlorine atom to achieve its octet.

This implies that carbon requires 4 electrons and chlorine requires 1 electron to satisfy its octet. Thus, carbon and chlorine have 4 and 7 valence electrons, respectively. As we already know, the atomic number of carbon atom is 6, and that of chlorine is 17. Carbon forms one covalent bond with each chlorine atom, which is electronegative in nature.