Draw the electron-dot structure of CH4 (Methane). How many nonbonding and bonding electrons are in the structure?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The electron-dot structure, also known as the Lewis structure, for methane (CH4) represents the arrangement of valence electrons around the atoms involved. Methane consists of one carbon atom (C) and four hydrogen atoms (H). Carbon is in group 14 of the periodic table, meaning it has 4 valence electrons, and each hydrogen atom is in group 1, meaning each has 1 valence electron.
To draw the electron-dot structure of CH4:
- Determine the total number of valence electrons:
- Carbon has 4 valence electrons.
- Each hydrogen atom has 1 valence electron.
Total valence electrons = 4 (from carbon) + 4 (from hydrogen) = 8 valence electrons.
- Connect the atoms:
- Carbon is the central atom, and it will bond to the four hydrogen atoms, which each provide one electron. The bonds are formed by sharing electrons between carbon and hydrogen atoms.
- Place the electrons:
- Carbon will form four single bonds with the four hydrogen atoms. Each bond consists of two electrons, one from carbon and one from hydrogen. This uses up all 8 valence electrons.
Electron-Dot Structure:
The structure can be drawn as:
markdownCopyEdit H
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H - C - H
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H
In this structure:
- The carbon atom is in the center with four single bonds to each hydrogen atom.
- Each bond represents a pair of electrons, one from carbon and one from hydrogen.
- There are no lone pairs (nonbonding electrons) on carbon or hydrogen atoms.
Bonding and Nonbonding Electrons:
- Bonding Electrons: There are 8 bonding electrons, which are involved in the 4 C-H bonds. Each C-H bond has 2 electrons, and there are 4 bonds, so 8 electrons are bonding electrons.
- Nonbonding Electrons: There are no nonbonding electrons in the methane molecule. All electrons are involved in bonding.
Thus, methane (CH4) has 8 bonding electrons and 0 nonbonding electrons.
