Lewis structure of CH2

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The Lewis structure of CH₂ contains two single bonds, with carbon in the center, and two hydrogens on either side. There is one lone pair on the carbon atom, and the hydrogen atom does not have any lone pair.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of CH₂.

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Mark lone pairs
#4 Calculate formal charge and check stability (if 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 CH₂ has one carbon atom and two hydrogen atoms.

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

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 4 + 2 = 6

• 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.

Hence, assume that carbon is the central atom.

So now, put carbon in the center and hydrogens on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of CH₂ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of AlF₃ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since carbon is surrounded by two hydrogens, use four electrons to show two chemical bonds as follows:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of Cl (3 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 6 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used four 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. But hydrogen can not keep more than 2 electrons in its last shell. Hence, don’t mark the lone pairs on hydrogen.

So the central atom (carbon) will get one lone pair.

Now draw the Lewis structure of CH₂ something like this:

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

Now carbon has an exception in CH₂, that it does not require eight electrons to complete its octet.

So 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 S₂Cl₂ (4 steps)

#4 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 carbon atom

Valence electrons = 4
Nonbonding electrons = 2
Bonding electrons = 4

Formal charge = 4 – 2 – ½ (4) = 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 CH₂ 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 CH₂.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of AlF₃
• Lewis structure of Cl
• Lewis structure of S₂Cl₂
• Lewis structure of XeF₆
• Cl^– Lewis structure

External links

• CH2 Lewis Structure in 5 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Lewis Structure for CH2 – Laurence Lavelle
• What is the lewis structure of CH2? – Chegg
• What is the Lewis structures of CH2? – Answers