CH4, also known as methane, has a covalent bond. This compound is formed when one carbon atom shares its electrons with four hydrogen atoms. In a covalent bond, atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve a full outer shell of electrons, resulting in a stable molecule.
The hydrogen atoms each have one electron and need one more to fill their outer shell, while the carbon atom has four electrons in its outer shell and needs four more to form a complete octet. By sharing electrons, CH4 achieves stability. This sharing occurs rather than a complete transfer of electrons, which is characteristic of ionic bonds.
In summary, because the CH4 molecule is formed by the sharing of electrons between carbon and hydrogen atoms, it is categorized as a covalent bond.