There are 7 covalent bonds in ethane.
Ethane (C₂H₆) is an organic compound with a simple structure consisting of two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. Understanding the bonding arrangement is key to determining the number of covalent bonds.
Here's a breakdown:
- Carbon-Carbon Bond: One single covalent bond connects the two carbon atoms. This bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between the two carbon atoms.
- Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds: Each carbon atom is bonded to three hydrogen atoms via single covalent bonds. Since there are two carbon atoms, there are a total of 6 carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Therefore, the total number of covalent bonds in ethane is: 1 (C-C) + 6 (C-H) = 7.
In summary, ethane consists of 7 covalent bonds: one linking the two carbon atoms and six linking the carbon atoms to the hydrogen atoms.
