Methane (CH4) Molecule Lewis Structure

Methane lewis structure contains four C-H bonds. There are no lone pairs in the valence shells of carbon atom. Carbon atom is the center atom and it is very easy to draw CH4 lewis structure.


CH4 lewis structure

ch4 methane lewis structure

There are following specifications in the lewis structure of methane.

  • Four hydrogen atoms have made bonds with center carbon atom and all those bonds are single bonds.
  • No lone pairs on valence shells of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
  • Oxidation number of carbon atom is -4.


Steps of drawing lewis structure of CH4 molecule

Several guidelines (several steps) are given for students to draw a lewis structure. Number of steps can be changed according the complexity of the molecule or ion. Drawing the lewis structure of CH4O is very simple. However, those all steps are mentioned and explained in detail in this tutorial to improve your knowledge.

  1. Find total number of electrons of the valance shells of carbon and hydrogen atoms
  2. Determine total electrons pairs existing as lone pairs and bonds
  3. Center atom selection
  4. Mark lone pairs on atoms
  5. Mark charges on atoms if there are charges.
  6. Check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds to obtain best lewis structure.

Total number of electrons of the valance shells of CH4 molecule

Carbon is a group IVA element in the periodic table and contains four electrons in its last shell. Hydrogen is a group IA element in the periodic table and contains only one electron in its last shell. Now, we know how many electrons are there in valence shells of carbon and hydrogen atoms.


  • valence electrons given by carbon atom = 4 * 1 = 4
  • valence electrons given by hydrogen atoms = 1 * 4 = 4

  • Total valence electrons = 8

Total valence electrons pairs

Total valance electrons pairs = σ bonds + π bonds + lone pairs at valence shells

Total electron pairs are determined by dividing the number total valence electrons by two. For, CH4O5 molecule, Total number of pairs of electrons are four (8/2) in their valence shells.



Center atom of Cl2O3 molecule

Because, hydrogen cannot be a center atom due to its maximum valence is one, carbon becomes the center atom.

CH4 basic sketch

Lone pairs on atoms

After determining the center atom and sketch of CH4 molecule, we can start to mark lone pairs on atoms. Remember that, there should be total of four electron pairs as lone pairs and bonds.








Lewis Structures of Molecules

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