Carbon: 4 Hydrogen: 1

Suppose a carbon atom forms a single bond with another carbon atom

Two carbon atoms in the molecule

Six hydrogen atoms in the molecule

There are other ways that carbon and hydrogen atoms can combine – and still obey the combination rules

Remember: electrons available for bonding:

C

●● ●

●●

C

●

●●

This leaves enough electrons to bond 6 hydrogen atoms

C2H6

C

●● ●

●●

C

●

●●

●

●● ●

●●

H H

H

HH

H

Covalent bonding in ethane, C2H6

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