The Lewis structure of methane (CH₄) is a simple and fundamental concept in chemistry. Methane consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. The carbon atom is at the center, with the four hydrogen atoms surrounding it. Each hydrogen atom shares one electron with the carbon atom, forming a single covalent bond. This results in a tetrahedral shape, where the carbon atom is at the center and the hydrogen atoms are positioned at the four corners of the tetrahedron. The Lewis structure for methane can be represented as follows:
H
|
H—C—H
|
H
In this structure, the lines represent the covalent bonds between the carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon atom has four valence electrons, and each hydrogen atom has one valence electron. By sharing these electrons, all atoms achieve a stable electron configuration, with carbon having a full octet and each hydrogen having a full duet.