The Lewis structure for ethylene, C2H4, is shown. How many valence electrons do the two carbon atoms in the molecule share with each other in the double bond?

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Chemistry

Belinda Cherry

12 March, 03:45

The Lewis structure for ethylene, C2H4, is shown. How many valence electrons do the two carbon atoms in the molecule share with each other in the double bond?

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Danielle Horne · Answer 1

So,

The Lewis structure for ethylene is two carbons double-bonded to each other, and two hydrogens single-bonded to each carbon atom.

Each bond symbolizes two shared valence electrons. Since the carbon atoms are double-bonded, they share four (4) valence electrons (the other electrons are in lower energy levels and do not appear because they typically don't react when higher energy-level electrons are on top of them).