Carbon–oxygen bond

When atoms like carbon and oxygen get close to each other, they can hold hands and make a bond. Just like how you hold hands with someone you like to be close to, atoms bond together to form molecules.

Carbon and oxygen have a very strong attraction to each other because they’re different and that makes them want to stick together. When they form a bond, they share electrons (tiny particles that move around in atoms) between them.

Think of electrons as tiny toys that atoms like to play with. They need a place to go and they’re happy to share with other atoms. When carbon and oxygen bond, they share two electrons between them. The carbon atom brings two electrons to share with the oxygen atom, and the oxygen atom does the same. They’re like two kids who each bring a toy to play and decide to share with each other.

Together, carbon and oxygen make a molecule called carbon dioxide, which is what we breathe out when we exhale. This molecule is important for plants too, because they use it to make their food through a process called photosynthesis. So even though you can’t see it, carbon and oxygen are working together all around us!