a) Consider a carbon atom in its ground state. Would such an atom offer a satisfactory model for the carbon of methane? If not, why not? (Hint: Consider whether a ground state carbon atom could be tetravalent, and consider the bond angles that would result if it were to combine with hydrogen atoms.)
b) Consider a carbon atom in the excited state. Would such an atom offer a satisfactory model for the carbon of methane? If not, why not?