C2H4F2 Lewis structure

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C₂H₄F₂ (1,2-difluoroethane) has two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two fluorine atoms.

In C₂H₄F₂ Lewis structure, there is a single bond between the two carbon atoms, and each carbon is attached with one fluorine atom and two hydrogen atoms. And on each fluorine atom, there are three lone pairs.

Steps

To properly draw the C₂H₄F₂ Lewis structure, follow these steps:

#1 Draw a rough sketch of the structure
#2 Next, indicate lone pairs on the atoms
#3 Indicate formal charges on the atoms, if necessary

Let’s break down each step in more detail.

#1 Draw a rough sketch of the structure

• First, determine the total number of valence electrons

In the periodic table, carbon lies in group 14, hydrogen lies in group 1, and fluorine lies in group 17.

Hence, carbon has four valence electrons, hydrogen has one valence electron, and fluorine has seven valence electrons.

Since C₂H₄F₂ has two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two fluorine atoms, so…

Valence electrons of two carbon atoms = 4 × 2 = 8
Valence electrons of four hydrogen atoms = 1 × 4 = 4
Valence electrons of two fluorine atoms = 7 × 2 = 14

And the total valence electrons = 8 + 4 + 14 = 26

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

• Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 26 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 = 26 ÷ 2 = 13

• 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 we have to choose the central atom from carbon and fluorine. Place the least electronegative atom at the center.

Since carbon is less electronegative than fluorine, assume that the central atom is carbon.

Here, there are two carbon atoms, so we can assume any one as the central atom.

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

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

• And finally, draw the rough sketch

#2 Next, indicate lone pairs on the atoms

Here, we have a total of 13 electron pairs. And seven bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining six electron pairs as lone pairs on the sketch.

Also remember that both (carbon and fluorine) are the period 2 elements, so they can not keep more than 8 electrons in their 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, fluorines, and right carbon. But no need to mark on hydrogen, because each hydrogen has already two electrons.

So for each fluorine, there are three lone pairs, and for left carbon and right carbon, there is zero lone pair because all six electron pairs are over.

Mark the lone pairs on the sketch as follows:

#3 Indicate formal charges on the atoms, if necessary

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

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

For each carbon atom, formal charge = 4 – 0 – ½ (8) = 0

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

For each fluorine atom, formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

Here, the atoms do not have charges, so no need to mark the charges.

In the above structure, you can see that the central atom (left carbon) forms an octet. The outside atoms (right carbon and fluorines) also form an octet, and all hydrogens form a duet. Hence, the octet rule and duet rule are satisfied.

Therefore, this structure is the stable Lewis structure of C₂H₄F₂.

Next: Br₂O Lewis structure

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