Methanol uses the skeleton H3C–O–H. Carbon forms four single bonds, oxygen forms two single bonds and carries two lone pairs, and every atom has formal charge zero.
Three H atoms on carbon; one H on oxygen; two O lone pairs
Total valence electrons14
Key skeletonH3C–O–H
Carbon geometryTetrahedral
Oxygen geometryBent
CH3OH Lewis structure overview
Carbon contributes four valence electrons, oxygen contributes six and the four hydrogen atoms contribute four, giving fourteen total. Five single bonds use ten electrons. The remaining four electrons become two lone pairs on oxygen.
How to draw the CH3OH Lewis structure
Count 14 valence electrons.
Use 4 from carbon, 6 from oxygen and 4 from hydrogen.
Choose the H3C–O–H connectivity.
Carbon bonds to three hydrogens and oxygen; oxygen bonds to carbon and the hydroxyl hydrogen.
Draw five single bonds.
Three C–H, one C–O and one O–H bond use 10 electrons.
Place two lone pairs on oxygen.
The remaining 4 electrons complete oxygen's octet.
Check all atoms.
Carbon and oxygen have octets, hydrogen atoms have duets, and formal charges are zero.
Formal charges and polarity
All atoms have formal charge zero. The C–O and O–H bonds are polar toward oxygen, and the molecular dipoles do not cancel, so methanol is polar and can participate in hydrogen bonding.
Local geometry
Carbon has four bonding domains and tetrahedral geometry. Oxygen has four electron domains—two bonds and two lone pairs—so its electron geometry is tetrahedral and its local molecular geometry is bent.
Common mistakes
Attaching all four hydrogens to carbon, which would leave oxygen disconnected.
Writing a C=O double bond; methanol contains a C–O single bond.
Forgetting the two lone pairs on oxygen.
Calling the entire molecule tetrahedral without distinguishing the geometry around carbon and oxygen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is one hydrogen bonded to oxygen?
The formula represents an alcohol functional group, –OH. Its connectivity is CH3–OH rather than CH4–O.
Does carbon have any lone pairs?
No. Carbon participates in four single bonds.
What hybridization is assigned to carbon and oxygen?
Both are commonly described as sp³ hybridized because each has four electron domains.