Question

Draw a Lewis structure for dimethyl ether (CH₃OCH₃).

Answer 1

The Lewis structure for dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) is H | H H-C-O-C-H | H H

Step-by-step explanation:

The Lewis structure for dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) can be drawn by following these steps:

1. Count the total number of valence electrons in the molecule. For dimethyl ether, we have 4 valence electrons for carbon (C), 1 valence electron for hydrogen (H), and 6 valence electrons for oxygen (O), totaling to 16 valence electrons.
2. Place the atoms in the molecule, with the least electronegative atom (carbon) as the central atom.
3. Connect the central carbon atom to the oxygen atoms with single bonds.
4. Complete the octets of the atoms bonded to the central carbon atom by adding lone pairs of electrons.
5. Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs on the oxygen atoms.

The Lewis structure of dimethyl ether is therefore:

H
| H
H-C-O-C-H
| H
H