Question

In a Lewis diagram for methane (CH₄), which atom or atoms is inside, or central?

A hydrogen
B carbon
C neither; carbon and hydrogen are both inside
D neither; carbon and hydrogen are both outside

Answer 1

In the Lewis diagram for methane (CH₄), the central atom is carbon, with hydrogen atoms surrounding it at the corners of a tetrahedral structure. The correct answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a Lewis diagram for methane (CH₄), the atom that is central, or inside, is B carbon. Methane has a molecular geometry that is tetrahedral, with the carbon atom at the center of the tetrahedron and the four hydrogen atoms at the corners.

This tetrahedral arrangement is due to the carbon atom exhibiting sp³ hybridization. Each of the carbon's four valence electrons are distributed equally in the hybrid orbitals, and they pair up with an electron from each of the four hydrogen atoms to form the C-H bonds.

In a Lewis diagram, which represents the arrangement of the valence electrons in a molecule, carbon's central position reflects its role in forming covalent bonds with each of the hydrogen atoms.