Total shared electrons in covalent bonds Steps:

• Each covalent bond shares 2 electrons; count bonds per molecule.
• CH₄: 4 C-H single bonds = 8 electrons.
• CO₂: 2 C=O double bonds (4 electrons each) = 8 electrons.
• CH₃OH: 3 C-H, 1 C-O, 1 O-H single bonds = 10 electrons.
• N₂: 1 N≡N triple bond (6 electrons) = 6 electrons. Why C is correct:
• CH₃OH has 5 single bonds, sharing 10 electrons, the maximum per the bond count formula (bonds × 2 electrons). Why the others are wrong:
• A: CH₄ has only 4 bonds (8 electrons), fewer than CH₃OH.
• B: CO₂ has two double bonds (8 electrons total), matching CH₄ but less than CH₃OH.
• D: N₂ has one triple bond (6 electrons), the fewest.

Final answer: C