The Lewis structure of C2H4 contains one double bond and four single bonds, with two carbons in the center, and each carbon is attached with two hydrogens. Both hydrogen atom and carbon atom do not have any lone pair.
Steps
By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of C2H4:
#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 and hydrogen is a group 1 element. Hence, carbon has four valence electrons and hydrogen has one valence electron.
Now C2H4 has two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms.
So the total number of valence electrons = (valence electrons of carbon atom × 2) + (valence electrons of hydrogen atom × 4)
Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 8 + 4 = 12
- 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 carbon as the central atom.
But there are two carbon atoms in C2H4. Hence, we can assume any one as the central atom. Let’s assume that left carbon is the central atom.
So now, put two carbons in the center and four hydrogens on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of C2H4 something like this:
Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of BF3 (4 steps)
#2 Show chemical bond
Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since two carbons are surrounded by four hydrogens, use ten electrons to show five chemical bonds as follows:
#3 Mark lone pairs
As calculated earlier, we have a total of 12 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used ten valence electrons. Hence, two valence electrons are remaining.
And two valence electrons represent one lone pair.
Note that carbon is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And hydrogen is a period 1 element, so it can not keep more than 2 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 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 right carbon will get one lone pair. And the central atom (left carbon) will not get any lone pair, because all lone pairs are used.
Now draw the Lewis structure of C2H4 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 SO3 (6 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 C2H4 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 O3 (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
Mention the formal charges of atoms on the structure. So the Lewis structure of C2H4 looks something like this:
In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (carbon and hydrogen) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of C2H4.
And each horizontal line drawn in the above structure represents a pair of bonding valence electrons.
Related
- Lewis structure of BF3
- Lewis structure of SO3
- Lewis structure of O3
- Lewis structure of H2S
- Lewis structure of C2H2
External video
External links
- Drawing the Lewis Structure for C2H4 – The University of Maryland
- BF3 Lewis Structure in 5 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
- C2H4 lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, polarity, electrons – Topblogtenz
- C2H4 Lewis Structure, Molecular Structure, Hybridization, Bond Angle and Shape – Geometry of Molecules
- C2H4 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
- Ethene (C2H4) Lewis Structure, Hybridization – Chemistry School
- C2H4 Lewis Structure (Ethylene) – Pinterest
- Lewis structure of C2H4 – AceOrganicChem
- What is the Lewis structure of C2H4? – Homework.Study.com
- Chemical Bonding: Electron Dot Structure for C2H4 – The Geoexchange
- Which is the correct lewis structure for ethylene, c2h4? – Brainly
- Which is the correct Lewis structure for ethylene C2H4? – Quora
- Ethylene (C2H4) Lewis structure – Numerade
- Which is the correct Lewis structure for ethylene, C,H4? – Bartleby
- lewis dot structure of c2h4 – Quizlet
Deep
Rootmemory.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.