How many pairs of electrons are shared between two adjacent carbon atoms in a saturated hydrocarbon?

1 Answer
anor277
May 1, 2016

How many pairs? Just the one.

Explanation:

Consider the ethane molecule, H3C−CH3. Each carbon atom has 6 electrons, 2 of which are inner core and are along for the ride. Thus, there are 4 electrons in the valence shell.

When carbon makes music with the hydrogen atom (1 electron), 2 electrons are conceived to form the H−C bond. So far we have H3C⋅, a neutral carbon radical.

So the free electron on one carbon nucleus is conceived to couple to form a C−C bond:

H3C⋅+⋅CH3→H3C−CH3

Of course, all of this is a formalism. But you can use this approach to assign formal charge.

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