CH3CH2OH Draw the Lewis dot structure for CH3CH2OH.

CH3CH2OH Draw the Lewis dot structure for CH3CH2OH. Include all hydrogen atoms and nonbonding electrons.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

To draw the Lewis dot structure for ethanol (CH3CH2OH), follow these steps:

1. Identify the atoms involved: Ethanol consists of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
   • The molecular formula is CH3CH2OH, meaning there are two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.
2. Arrange the atoms:
   • The carbon atoms will form the backbone of the structure.
   • The two carbons (C) are connected by a single bond, with each carbon also bonded to hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom attached to the second carbon (C).
3. Connect atoms with bonds:
   • The first carbon (C) in CH3 is bonded to three hydrogen atoms (H) through single bonds.
   • The second carbon (C) in CH2 is bonded to two hydrogen atoms (H) and a hydroxyl group (-OH), where the oxygen atom (O) is bonded to the carbon (C) with a single bond.
4. Distribute electrons:
   • Each hydrogen atom (H) needs one electron to complete its shell, so they each form single bonds with the carbon atoms.
   • The carbon atoms form four bonds each to fulfill the octet rule.
   • Oxygen (O) has six valence electrons and needs two more to complete its octet. One of these electrons comes from the bond with the second carbon, and the other comes from the bond with hydrogen in the hydroxyl group.
5. Add lone pairs:
   • Oxygen (O) has two lone pairs of electrons, as it needs to make a total of 8 electrons in its valence shell (two shared in bonds and four as lone pairs).

Lewis Dot Structure:

mathematicaCopyEditH   H
|   |
H-C-C-O-H
|   |
H   H

In this structure:

• The bonds between the atoms are represented by lines.
• Each hydrogen atom (H) is connected to carbon atoms with single bonds, represented as lines.
• Oxygen (O) is bonded to the second carbon atom and the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group.
• Oxygen (O) has two lone pairs of electrons that are not shown in this diagram but are implied.

Explanation:

• Carbon atoms need four bonds to satisfy the octet rule, and each carbon forms four bonds by bonding to hydrogen atoms and the other carbon.
• Oxygen has six valence electrons and needs two additional electrons, which it gets by bonding to carbon and hydrogen.
• The lone pairs on oxygen are necessary to complete its octet, which ensures the stability of the molecule.

This structure represents a stable, covalently bonded molecule of ethanol.