MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 26 / 175
Is C2H6 polar or nonpolar?
C2H6 is a nonpolar molecule because its symmetric arrangement of identical hydrogen atoms on both sides of the C–C bond causes all bond dipoles to cancel.
Ethane · tetrahedral at each C
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDPubChem 3D coordinates. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why C2H6 is nonpolar
Ethane consists of two CH3 groups connected by a C–C bond. The small C–H dipoles point outward symmetrically, and because the molecule has identical substituents on both sides, all dipoles cancel completely.
What to notice
Ethane has two carbon centers, each approximately tetrahedral. Its nearly symmetric hydrocarbon framework has no permanent molecular dipole.
Common questions about C2H6
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of C2H6 show?
The connectivity is H3C–CH3. The carbons share one single bond, and each carbon makes three C–H bonds.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of C2H6?
Each carbon has an approximately tetrahedral bond arrangement; the full molecule is not one tetrahedron. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 110.6° and 108.3°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of C2H6?
C2H6 has an approximate molar mass of 30.07 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.