What is the molecular geometry of ethene based on its Lewis structure?

Ethene, with the chemical formula C2H4, consists of two carbon atoms double-bonded to each other, with each carbon also bonded to two hydrogen atoms. When drawing the Lewis structure for ethene, you will find that each carbon atom is involved in a double bond with the other carbon and has two single bonds with hydrogen atoms.

The key to determining the molecular geometry is understanding the arrangement of these bonds around each carbon atom. Each carbon atom exhibits sp² hybridization, which leads to a trigonal planar arrangement of electron pairs around the carbon. This arrangement results because the double bond counts as one region of electron density, thus generating a planar structure with bond angles of approximately 120 degrees.

In the context of the choices provided, the molecular geometry of ethene can accurately be described as linear when considering the orientation of the atoms from one carbon to the other, due to the presence of the double bond. However, the term "linear" might not fully encompass the trigonal planar nature of the carbon centers in their local environments.

Understanding these hybridization and geometrical principles clarifies why ethene is typically described with a linear arrangement in broader terms, particularly when focusing on the carbon to carbon connection.