Structure of Molecules

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A molecular formula indicates the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of a compound. The molecular formula for methane is CH₄. A molecule of methane has one atom of carbon (C) and four atoms of hydrogen (H₄).

The molecular formula doesn't tell how the atoms in a compound are arranged. A structural formula will tell you approximately how the atoms are arranged. In the structural formula on the next screen, a dash is used to represent the pair of shared electrons that form the bond.

Figure 2. In each molecule of methane, one carbon atom forms covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms.

Figure 2
Methane molecule
In each molecule of methane, one carbon atom forms covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms.