Question

Draw the Lewis structure for ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH), an alcohol used as the active ingredient in hand sanitizer to kill viruses and bacteria. Draw in a molecular dipole if one exists.

Answer 1

The Lewis structure of ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) is a polar molecule with a dipole moment pointing towards the oxygen atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Lewis structure of ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) can be drawn as follows:

H—C—C—O—H

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H

In the Lewis structure, each carbon atom is connected to three hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom has a lone pair of electrons, which gives it a partial negative charge and creates a dipole moment in the molecule. The dipole moment points towards the oxygen atom, making it a polar molecule.