Lewis structure of C2H3Cl

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The Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl contains one double bond and four single bonds, with two carbons in the center. The left carbon is attached with two hydrogens, and the right carbon is attached with chlorine and one other hydrogen. There are three lone pairs on the chlorine atom, and carbon atom and hydrogen atom do not have any lone pair.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl.

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Mark lone pairs
#4 Complete octet on central atom
#5 Calculate formal charge and check stability

Let’s one by one discuss each step in detail.

#1 Draw skeleton

In this step, first calculate the total number of valence electrons. And then, decide the central atom.

• Let’s calculate the total number of valence electrons

We know that… carbon is a group 14 element, hydrogen is a group 1 element, and chlorine is a group 17 element. Hence, carbon has four valence electrons, hydrogen has one valence electron, and chlorine has seven valence electrons.

Now C₂H₃Cl has two carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms, and one chlorine atom.

So the total number of valence electrons = (valence electrons of carbon atom × 2) + (valence electrons of hydrogen atom × 3) + valence electrons of chlorine atom

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 8 + 3 + 7 = 18

• Now decide the central atom

We can not assume hydrogen as the central atom, because the central atom is bonded with at least two other atoms. And hydrogen has only one electron in its last shell, so it can not make more than one bond.

Therefore, choose the central atom from carbon and chlorine.

The atom with the least electronegative value is placed at the center. By looking at the periodic table, we get the electronegativity values for carbon and chlorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of carbon = 2.55
Electronegativity value of chlorine = 3.16

Obviously, carbon is less electronegative than chlorine. Hence, assume that left carbon is the central atom (as there are two carbons).

So now, put two carbons in the center and three hydrogens and one chlorine on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of CH₂Br₂ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since two carbons are surrounded by three hydrogens and one chlorine, use ten electrons to show five chemical bonds as follows:

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 18 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used ten valence electrons. Hence, eight valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So eight valence electrons = four lone pairs.

Note that carbon is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. Hydrogen is a period 1 element, so it can not keep more than 2 electrons in its last shell. And chlorine is a period 3 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell.

Also, make sure that you start marking these lone pairs on outside atoms first. And then, on the central atom.

The outside atoms are hydrogens, chlorine, and right carbon. But hydrogen can not keep more than 2 electrons in its last shell. Hence, don’t mark the lone pairs on hydrogen.

So chlorine will get three lone pairs, and the right carbon will get one lone pair. And the central atom (left carbon) will not get any lone pair, because all four lone pairs are used.

Now draw the Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on outside atoms. But, the central atom (left carbon) doesn’t form an octet.

So in the next step, we have to complete the octet on the central atom.

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of NHF₂ (4 steps)

#4 Complete octet on central atom

Remember that carbon is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell.

Now left carbon already has six valence electrons. Hence, left carbon needs two more valence electrons to complete its octet.

So convert one lone pair from the right carbon atom to make a new bond with the left carbon atom. And then, the Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (left carbon), and also on the outside atoms. Therefore, the octet rule is satisfied.

After completing the octet, one last thing we need to do is, calculate the formal charge and check the stability of the above structure.

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of Cr₂O₇^2- (5 steps)

#5 Calculate formal charge and check stability

The following formula is used to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

Collect the data from the above structure and then, write it down below as follows:

• For each carbon atom

Valence electrons = 4
Nonbonding electrons = 0
Bonding electrons = 8

Formal charge = 4 – 0 – ½ (8) = 0

• For each hydrogen atom

Valence electrons = 1
Nonbonding electrons = 0
Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge = 1 – 0 – ½ (2) = 0

• For chlorine atom

Valence electrons = 7
Nonbonding electrons = 6
Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

Mention the formal charges of atoms on the structure. So the Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of all atoms are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of C₂H₃Cl.

And each horizontal line drawn in the above structure represents a pair of bonding valence electrons.

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Related

• Lewis structure of CH₂Br₂
• Lewis structure of NHF₂
• Lewis structure of Cr₂O₇^2-
• Lewis structure of AsO₄^3-
• Lewis structure of GeCl₄

External video

• C2H3Cl Lewis Structure: How to Draw the Lewis Structure for C2H3Cl – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• C2H3Cl Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Draw a Lewis structure for C2H3Cl – Chegg
• Draw a Lewis structure for C2H3Cl – Brainly
• What is the Lewis structure for chloroethylene (C2H3Cl)? – Course Hero
• Lewis structure for chloroethylene (C2H3Cl) – Numerade
• Vinyl chloride-d3 | C2H3Cl | CID 138822 – National Institutes of Health (.gov)
• Vinyl chloride – Wikipedia