QUESTION IMAGE
Question
ch₄
dot structure:
complete octet:
lewis dot structue:
Step1: Determine the valence electrons
Carbon ($C$) has 4 valence electrons and hydrogen ($H$) has 1 valence electron. For $CH_{4}$, total valence electrons = $4+(4\times1)=8$.
Step2: Arrange atoms
Carbon is the central atom. Each hydrogen is bonded to carbon.
Step3: Draw the dot structure
Carbon forms 4 single bonds with 4 hydrogen atoms. In the dot structure (Lewis structure), we represent the bonds as lines (each line is 2 electrons). So, for $CH_{4}$, the Lewis dot structure has carbon in the center with 4 lines (bonds) going to 4 hydrogen atoms. Since carbon has 4 bonds (8 electrons around it) and each hydrogen has 2 electrons (from the single bond), carbon has a complete octet (8 - electron rule satisfied) and hydrogen has a complete duet (2 - electron rule satisfied for hydrogen as it is in the first period).
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- Dot Structure (Lewis Dot Structure):
- Complete Octet: Carbon has 8 electrons (4 bonds, each bond is 2 electrons) around it, satisfying the octet rule.