Propylene, C₃H₆, is a gas that is used to form the important polymer called polypropylene. Its Lewis structure is (a) What is the total number of valence electrons in the propylene molecule?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements present in propylene: carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).
2. Determine the number of valence electrons for each type of atom: carbon has 4 valence electrons and hydrogen has 1 valence electron.
3. Count the number of each type of atom in the propylene molecule: there are 3 carbon atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms.
4. Calculate the total number of valence electrons by multiplying the number of each type of atom by its valence electrons and summing the results: (3 carbon atoms * 4 valence electrons) + (6 hydrogen atoms * 1 valence electron).
5. Sum the valence electrons from all the atoms to find the total number of valence electrons in the propylene molecule.

Key Concepts

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are crucial for determining how atoms bond with each other. In the context of molecules, the total number of valence electrons is calculated by adding the valence electrons of each atom present in the molecule. For propylene (C3H6), this involves considering the contributions from carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Lewis Structure

A Lewis structure is a diagram that represents the bonding between atoms in a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. It helps visualize how valence electrons are arranged and shared among atoms. Understanding how to draw and interpret Lewis structures is essential for predicting molecular geometry and reactivity.

Molecular Formula

The molecular formula of a compound indicates the number and type of atoms present in a molecule. For propylene, the molecular formula C3H6 shows that it contains three carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. This information is vital for calculating the total number of valence electrons and understanding the molecule's structure and properties.