Is C2H6 Polar or Non-polar? (Ethane)

Learn to determine if C2H6 is polar or nonpolar based on the Lewis Structure and the molecular geometry (shape). We start with the Lewis Structure and then use VSEPR to determine the shape of the molecule. After that we’ll look at how the shape of the molecule, based on VSEPR, allows us to determine if the entire molecule is polar or nonpolar. If you look at the Lewis Structure for C2H6 it appears to be a symmetrical molecule. However, to determine if C2H6 is polar we consider the molecular geometry. A polar molecule results from an unequal/unsymmetrical sharing of valence electrons. While there may be unequal sharing of electrons in the individual bonds, in a nonpolar molecule like C2H6 these bonds are evenly distributed and cancel out. There is no net dipole and the C2H6 is non-polar. Get more chemistry help at http://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/ Drawing/writing done in InkScape. Screen capture done with Camtasia Studio 4.0. Done on a Dell Dimension laptop computer with a Wacom digital tablet (Bamboo).