Lewis Structure Generator
Diethyl Ether · C₄H₁₀O

C₄H₁₀O Lewis Structure

The oxygen bridges two ethyl groups and carries two lone pairs.

Open C₄H₁₀O in the generatorSee drawing steps
C₄H₁₀O
CH₃CH₂—O—CH₂CH₃
Reviewed stored connectivity; detailed electron placement is explained below
Total valence electrons32
Reviewed connectivityCH₃CH₂—O—CH₂CH₃
GeometryBent at oxygen; tetrahedral at carbon
Support levelReviewed guide

Diethyl Ether overview

The stored Lewis connectivity is CH₃CH₂—O—CH₂CH₃. The oxygen bridges two ethyl groups and carries two lone pairs.

How to draw C₄H₁₀O

  1. Count 32 valence electrons. Include charge adjustments before drawing.
  2. Use the reviewed connectivity CH₃CH₂—O—CH₂CH₃. Do not infer a different isomer from the formula alone.
  3. Place the required single, double or multiple bonds. Keep a running electron total.
  4. Complete terminal valence shells and add lone pairs or formal charges. The oxygen bridges two ethyl groups and carries two lone pairs.
  5. Verify the total electron count and geometry. The reviewed geometry is Bent at oxygen; tetrahedral at carbon.

Why this example matters

The oxygen bridges two ethyl groups and carries two lone pairs.

Scope and model limits

C₄H₁₀O has several ether and alcohol isomers. The stored record represents diethyl ether only.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the formula uniquely defines diethyl ether
  • Drawing an O–H bond
  • Using only 26 valence electrons

Last reviewed: 2026-07-16. Educational reference only; verify graded work with course materials.