Lewis structure of CH₄
8 valence electrons. Four C-H single bonds, with no lone pair on C.
Lewis structure
8 valence electronsFormal charges: none
Why this shape
- C has 4 valence electrons. It uses four in four single bonds to H, so none are left over.
- Steric number = four sigma bonds + no lone pairs = 4, so C is sp³ hybridised.
- Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With no lone pairs the atoms take the same shape: tetrahedral.
- All the bond pairs repel each other equally, so the angle is the ideal 109.5°.
- The bond dipoles cancel in the symmetric tetrahedral shape, so CH₄ is non-polar.
How to draw it
- Count the valence electrons: C 4 + 4 × H 1 = 8 valence electrons, 4 pairs.
- Put C in the middle and join it to the four outer atoms with single bonds.
- Give each outer atom lone pairs until it has an octet (H needs only two electrons), then put any electrons left over on the central atom.
- Result: four C-H single bonds, with no lone pair on C.
- Formal charge = valence electrons − lone pair electrons − number of bonds. Here: none.
Class 11, Chapter 4 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure.
Lewis structure of CH4: quick answers
How many valence electrons are in CH4?
C 4 + 4 × H 1 = 8 valence electrons, 4 pairs.
What are the formal charges in the Lewis structure of CH4?
Every atom has a formal charge of zero.
How many lone pairs are in the Lewis structure of CH4?
0 in all, none on the central C.