Question

What is the shape around each carbon atom in ethylene, H2C=CH2?

Answer 1

Is it 120

Answer 2

180*

Answer 3

isn't it 120. Because the question is asking about carbon atom. Am I wrong?

Answer 4

you have to draw a lewis stucture and examine the monding sites around the central atom, I'm thinking this will have 2 bonded hydrogen and 2 lone pairs on the tetrahedral style geometry. So it will be bent

Answer 5

Thanks! I draw a lewis structure. And it worked!

Answer 6

was it a tetrahedral?

Answer 7

yes. and around carbon there is two hydrogen atoms, so it must be 120

Answer 8

You are correct it is 120 I decided to get lazy and draw my lewis structure out also and the molecular shape is trigonal planar . The difference between a trigonal planar and a tetrahedral is one additional bonding site. Sorry if I added to the confusion.

Answer 9

Thank you!