Lewis structure of C2H6

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The Lewis structure of C₂H₆ contains seven single bonds, with two carbons in the center, and six hydrogens on either side. There are no lone pairs on both carbon atom and hydrogen atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of C₂H₆:

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Calculate formal charge and check stability (if there are no lone pairs and octet is already completed on central atom)

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 C₂H₆ has two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = (valence electrons of carbon atom × 2) + (valence electrons of hydrogen atom × 6)

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 8 + 6 = 14

• 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 C₂H₆. 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 six hydrogens on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of C₂H₆ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of CHCl₃ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since two carbons are surrounded by six hydrogens, use fourteen electrons to show seven chemical bonds as follows:

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 H₂ (4 steps)

#3 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 C₂H₆ 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 C₂H₆.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of CHCl₃
• Lewis structure of H₂
• Lewis structure of SF₂
• Lewis structure of N₃^–
• Lewis structure of Cl₂

External links

• C2H6 lewis structure: Ethane Hybridization, Molecular Geometry and shape – Geometry of Molecules
• C2H6 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• C2H6 lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, hybridization – Topblogtenz
• How can I write the Lewis dot structure for C2H6? – Socratic
• C2H6 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, Polarity, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
• Ethane (CH3CH3 / C2H6) Lewis Structure – Chemistry School
• Lewis structure of C2H6 – AceOrganicChem
• Draw the Lewis structure for ethane (C2H6) – Chegg
• Draw and explain the Lewis structure of C2H6 – Homework.Study.com
• Drawing the Lewis Structure for C2H6 – Ethane – The Geoexchange
• Draw the Lewis structure for methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) – Brainly
• Lewis Dot of Ethane C2H6 – Kent’s Chemistry
• What is the molecular geometry of c2h6? – Quora