CH4 (methane) has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.
In the CH4 Lewis structure, there are four single bonds around the carbon atom, with four hydrogen atoms attached to it, and none of the atoms has a lone pair.
Alternative method: Lewis structure of CH4
Rough sketch
- First, determine the total number of valence electrons
In the periodic table, carbon lies in group 14, and hydrogen lies in group 1.
Hence, carbon has four valence electrons and hydrogen has one valence electron.
Since CH4 has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, so…
Valence electrons of one carbon atom = 4 × 1 = 4
Valence electrons of four hydrogen atoms = 1 × 4 = 4
And the total valence electrons = 4 + 4 = 8
Learn how to find: Carbon valence electrons and Hydrogen valence electrons
- Second, find the total electron pairs
We have a total of 8 valence electrons. And when we divide this value by two, we get the value of total electron pairs.
Total electron pairs = total valence electrons ÷ 2
So the total electron pairs = 8 ÷ 2 = 4
- Third, determine the central atom
Here hydrogen can not be 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, here we have to assume that the central atom is carbon.
Therefore, place carbon in the center and hydrogens on either side.
- And finally, draw the rough sketch
Lone pair
Here, we have a total of 4 electron pairs. And four C — H bonds are already marked. So we do not have to mark any electron pair as a lone pair on the sketch.
Final structure
The final structure of CH4 features a central carbon atom connected to four hydrogen atoms through single covalent bonds. In this layout, the carbon atom satisfies the octet rule by sharing its four valence electrons with four hydrogen atoms. Each hydrogen atom reaches its stable duet state through its single shared bond. This configuration is the most stable because it results in formal charges of zero for all atoms involved, representing the most energetically favorable state for the molecule. Accordingly, this specific electronic distribution serves as the definitive and most accurate Lewis representation of methane.
Next: BF3 Lewis structure
External video
- CH4 Lewis Structure – How to Draw the Dot Structure for CH4 (Methane) – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn
External links
- https://techiescientist.com/ch4-lewis-structure/
- https://geometryofmolecules.com/ch4-lewis-structure-molecular-geometry-bond-angle-shape/
- https://www.chemistryscl.com/general/ch4-lewis-structure/index.php
- https://topblogtenz.com/methane-ch4-lewis-structure-molecular-geometry-polar-or-nonpolar-bond-angle/
- https://lambdageeks.com/ch4-lewis-structure/
- https://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/lewis-dot-structure-for-CH4.html
- https://whatsinsight.org/ch4-lewis-structure/
- https://www.makethebrainhappy.com/2018/03/the-lewis-dot-structure-for-ch4.html
Deep
Learnool.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.