Step 1: Understand what a tetrahedral shape is. A tetrahedral shape means that there are four bonds arranged around a central atom, forming a three-dimensional shape like a pyramid with a triangular base.
Step 2: Identify the central atom in the molecule CH4 (methane). The central atom is carbon.
Step 3: Check the number of bonds the carbon atom forms. In CH4, carbon forms four single bonds with four hydrogen atoms.
Step 4: Determine the hybridization of the carbon atom in CH4. The carbon atom undergoes sp3 hybridization, which means it mixes one s orbital and three p orbitals to form four equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals.
Step 5: Conclude that because carbon in CH4 has four bonds and is sp3 hybridized, it has a tetrahedral shape.
