The Lewis Structure of Ethylene
Ethylene is a colorless, flammable gas with the chemical formula C2H4. It is a hydrocarbon and is the simplest member of the alkene family. Ethylene is a major industrial chemical and is used to produce a wide variety of products, including plastics, synthetic fibers, and ethanol.
The Lewis structure of ethylene is shown below.
H C ≡ C H In the Lewis structure, each carbon atom has four valence electrons. Two of these electrons are used to form a double bond between the two carbon atoms. The remaining two electrons are used to form single bonds with the hydrogen atoms.
The double bond between the carbon atoms is formed by the overlap of two sp2 hybridized orbitals. Sp2 hybridization is a process in which one s orbital and two p orbitals on a carbon atom combine to form three equivalent sp2 orbitals. These sp2 orbitals are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
The single bonds between the carbon atoms and the hydrogen atoms are formed by the overlap of one s orbital on a hydrogen atom and one sp2 orbital on a carbon atom.
The Lewis structure of ethylene can be used to predict the molecular geometry of the molecule. The molecular geometry of ethylene is trigonal planar. This is because the three sp2 orbitals on each carbon atom are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
Questions about the Lewis Structure of Ethylene
- Why does ethylene have a double bond between the carbon atoms?
Ethylene has a double bond between the carbon atoms because each carbon atom needs eight valence electrons to be stable. Two of these electrons are used to form the double bond, leaving two electrons to form single bonds with the hydrogen atoms.
- How is the double bond between the carbon atoms formed?
The double bond between the carbon atoms is formed by the overlap of two sp2 hybridized orbitals. Sp2 hybridization is a process in which one s orbital and two p orbitals on a carbon atom combine to form three equivalent sp2 orbitals. These sp2 orbitals are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
- What is the molecular geometry of ethylene?
The molecular geometry of ethylene is trigonal planar. This is because the three sp2 orbitals on each carbon atom are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
- What are some of the properties of ethylene?
Ethylene is a colorless, flammable gas with a sweet odor. It is a major industrial chemical and is used to produce a wide variety of products, including plastics, synthetic fibers, and ethanol.
- What are some of the applications of ethylene?
Ethylene is used in a wide variety of applications, including:
- Plastics: Ethylene is used to produce a variety of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride.
- Synthetic fibers: Ethylene is used to produce a variety of synthetic fibers, including polyester, nylon, and acrylic.
- Ethanol: Ethylene can be converted into ethanol, which is used as a fuel and as a solvent.
Conclusion
The Lewis structure of ethylene is a simple way to represent the bonding in this molecule. The Lewis structure shows that ethylene has a double bond between the carbon atoms and single bonds between the carbon atoms and the hydrogen atoms. The molecular geometry of ethylene is trigonal planar.