MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Ethylene structure
Ethylene structure and 3D model (C2H4)
Ethylene (ethene) is the simplest alkene: two carbons joined by a C=C double bond, each carrying two hydrogens. All six atoms lie in one plane.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Ethylene at a glance
| Formula | C2H4 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 28.05 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | ethene |
| Atoms / bonds | 6 / 5 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 0 / 0 |
| logP (estimated) | 0.8 |
| SMILES | C=C |
| InChIKey | VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 6325 |
What the 3D model of Ethylene shows
The model contains 6 atoms (2 heavy atoms and 4 hydrogens) joined by 5 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 0 and accept 0 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 0.8 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 0 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| each carbon | Trigonal planar, sp² | H–C–H ≈ 117°, H–C=C ≈ 121.5° |
| C=C bond | Double bond (σ + π) | ≈ 1.34 Å |
Is Ethylene polar?
No. The C–H bonds are almost non-polar and the symmetric shape cancels any small dipoles.
Elemental composition of C2H4
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 2 | 24.022 | 85.63% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 4 | 4.032 | 14.37% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of ethylene
- Monomer for polyethylene, the most common plastic
- Raw material for ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol and PVC
- Plant hormone used to ripen fruit
Interesting facts
- Ethylene is one of the most produced organic chemicals in the world.
- Plants release ethylene gas, which is why one ripe banana can speed up ripening of other fruit.
- The π bond stops rotation around the C=C, which is why alkenes can have cis and trans isomers.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Ethylene?
Ethylene (ethene) is the simplest alkene: two carbons joined by a C=C double bond, each carrying two hydrogens. All six atoms lie in one plane. Its SMILES is C=C.
Why is ethylene planar?
Each carbon is sp² hybridised, and the π bond needs the p orbitals on both carbons to be parallel. That locks all six atoms into one plane.
Is ethylene the same as ethene?
Yes. Ethene is the IUPAC name; ethylene is the common name.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Ethylene?
Ethylene is C2H4 with a molar mass of 28.05 g/mol. It contains 6 atoms: 2 carbon, 4 hydrogen.
What is the IUPAC name of Ethylene?
The IUPAC name is ethene.
How do I draw Ethylene?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C=C or type "Ethylene" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.