Draw the electron dot structure of ethane molecule (${{C}_{2}}{{H}_{6}}$ ).

To draw the electron dot structure of ethane (C₂H₆), we first need to understand the molecular composition and how the atoms bond together. Ethane consists of two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. The bonding in ethane is primarily covalent, where atoms share electrons to achieve stability.

Step-by-Step Construction of the Electron Dot Structure

1. Count the Valence Electrons

Each carbon atom has four valence electrons, and each hydrogen atom has one. Therefore, for ethane:

• Carbon: 2 atoms × 4 electrons = 8 electrons
• Hydrogen: 6 atoms × 1 electron = 6 electrons

In total, ethane has 8 + 6 = 14 valence electrons to work with.

2. Arrange the Atoms

In ethane, the two carbon atoms will be central to the structure, with hydrogen atoms bonded to them. The typical arrangement is:

• Carbon 1 (C1)
• Carbon 2 (C2)

Each carbon will be bonded to three hydrogen atoms, leading to a stable configuration.

3. Form the Bonds

To represent the bonds, we will use lines to indicate shared pairs of electrons:

• Each C-H bond consists of a single line (one pair of shared electrons).
• The C-C bond between the two carbon atoms will also be represented by a line.

4. Draw the Structure

The electron dot structure of ethane can be depicted as follows:

      H   H
       |   |
    H--C---C--H
       |   |
      H   H

In this representation, each line signifies a pair of shared electrons. Each carbon atom is bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one other carbon atom, fulfilling the tetravalent nature of carbon.

Understanding the Structure

Ethane's structure is a simple example of a saturated hydrocarbon, meaning it contains only single bonds. This saturation leads to a stable molecule, as all carbon atoms achieve a full outer shell of electrons (octet rule) through bonding.

Key Features of Ethane

• Each carbon atom forms four bonds (C1 to C2 and three C-H bonds).
• Hydrogen atoms complete their outer shell with just one bond.
• The molecule is non-polar due to the symmetrical arrangement of atoms.

In summary, drawing the electron dot structure of ethane involves counting valence electrons, arranging the atoms, forming bonds, and ensuring that each atom satisfies its bonding requirements. This process illustrates the fundamental principles of molecular structure and bonding in organic chemistry.