Q
QuestionBiochemistry

Determine the molecular geometry about each interior atom and make a sketch for C^2H^4 (skeletal structure: H^2CCH2).
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Answer

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Step 1:
: Determine the electron geometry around the central carbon atom in C^2H^4.

The central carbon atom in C^2H^4 has 4 regions of electron density (2 bonds to other carbon atoms and 2 bonds to hydrogen atoms). The electron geometry is therefore tetrahedral.

Step 2:
: Determine the molecular geometry about the central atom in C^2H^4.

In C^2H^4, there are 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs of electrons around the central carbon atom. The molecular geometry is determined by the arrangement of these electron pairs. In this case, the molecular geometry is bent or angular.

Step 3:
: Determine the molecular geometry about the hydrogen atoms in C^2H^4.

The hydrogen atoms in C^2H^4 are bonded to the central carbon atom in a linear geometry.

Step 4:
: Make a sketch of the molecule.

To make a sketch of the C^2H^4 molecule, we can start with the central carbon atom and draw two bonds to the other carbon atoms at an angle of approximately 109.5 degrees (corresponding to the tetrahedral electron geometry). Then, we can draw two bonds to the hydrogen atoms at an angle of approximately 109.5 degrees, forming a tetrahedral shape. The resulting structure is a planar, symmetrical molecule with a linear geometry around each hydrogen atom and a bent geometry around the central carbon atom.

Final Answer

The molecular geometry about the central carbon atom in C^2H^4 is bent or angular, with a tetrahedral electron geometry. The molecular geometry about the hydrogen atoms is linear. The sketch of the molecule is a planar, symmetrical structure with a tetrahedral shape around the central carbon atom and linear geometry around each hydrogen atom.