Step method to draw the Lewis dot structure of C2H6, ethane.
Step 1: Find valence e- for all atoms. Add them together.
Step2: Find octet e- for each atom and add them together.
Chlorine gets 10 electrons in order to make 3 bonds with surrounding atoms.
Step3: Gives you bonding e-. Subtract step 1 total from step 2
Step 4: Find number of bonds by diving the number in step 3 by 2(because each bond is made of 2 e-)
14e-/2= 7 bond pairs
Step 5: Find the number of nonbonding (lone pairs) e-. Subtract step 3 number from step 1.
14-14= 0 e-=0 lone pairs
Use information from step 4 and 5 to draw the lewis structure.
Lewis dot structure of C2H6
Alternatively a dot method can be used to draw the lewis structure.
Calculate the total valence electrons in the molecule.
Put two carbons in the center and arrange hydrogena toms on the sides.Arrange electrons until both carbons get 8 electrons.
Want a good tutorial on how to draw Lewis dot structures? Go to Lewis Dot Structure Tutorial
Here are all of the molecules that we do an in-depth Lewis structure analysis on: