C2H4 Lewis structure

C₂H₄ (ethylene or ethene) has two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms.

In the C₂H₄ Lewis structure, there is a double bond between the two carbon atoms, and each carbon is attached with one hydrogen atom, and none of the atoms has a lone pair.

Alternative method: Lewis structure of C₂H₄

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 C₂H₄ has two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms, so…

Valence electrons of two carbon atoms = 4 × 2 = 8
Valence electrons of four hydrogen atoms = 1 × 4 = 4

And the total valence electrons = 8 + 4 = 12

Learn how to find: Carbon valence electrons and Hydrogen valence electrons

• Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 12 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 = 12 ÷ 2 = 6

• 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.

Now there are only two atoms remaining and both atoms are carbon, so we can assume any one as the central atom.

Let’s assume that the central atom is right carbon.

Therefore, place carbons in the center and hydrogens on either side.

• And finally, draw the rough sketch

Lone pair

Here, we have a total of 6 electron pairs. And five bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining one electron pair as a lone pair on the sketch.

Also remember 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.

Always start to mark the lone pairs from outside atoms. Here, the outside atoms are hydrogens and left carbon. But no need to mark on hydrogen, because each hydrogen has already two electrons.

So for left carbon, there is one lone pair, and for right carbon, there is zero lone pair because all electron pairs are over.

Mark the lone pairs on the sketch as follows:

Formal charge

Use the following formula to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

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

For left carbon atom, formal charge = 4 – 2 – ½ (6) = -1

For right carbon atom, formal charge = 4 – 0 – ½ (6) = +1

For each hydrogen atom, formal charge = 1 – 0 – ½ (2) = 0

Here, both carbon atoms have charges, so mark them on the sketch as follows:

The above structure is not a stable Lewis structure because both carbon atoms have charges. Therefore, reduce the charges (as below) by converting lone pairs to bonds.

Convert a lone pair of the left carbon atom to make a new C — C bond with the right carbon atom as follows:

Final structure

The final structure of C₂H₄ involves two central carbon atoms connected to each other by a double covalent bond. In this arrangement, each carbon atom is also single-bonded to two hydrogen atoms. This configuration allows both carbon atoms to satisfy the octet rule by sharing four pairs of electrons total, while each hydrogen atom reaches its stable duet state. Within this layout, there are no lone pairs present on any of the atoms. This configuration is the most stable because it results in formal charges of zero for every atom in the molecule, representing the most energetically favorable state. Accordingly, this specific electronic distribution serves as the definitive and most accurate Lewis representation of ethylene (ethene).

Next: SF₄ Lewis structure

External video

• C2H4 Lewis Dot Structure – How to Draw the Lewis Structure for C2H4 – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• https://techiescientist.com/c2h4-lewis-structure/
• https://geometryofmolecules.com/c2h4-lewis-structure-molecular-structure-hybridization-bond-angle-and-shape/
• https://topblogtenz.com/ethene-c2h4-lewis-dot-structure-molecular-geometry-polar-or-non-polar/
• https://www.chemistryscl.com/general/ethene-lewis-structure-hybridization/
• https://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/c2h4-lewis-structure.html