---
title: "Ethylene Structure (C2H4): 3D Model, Formula & Molar Mass | MolDraw"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/ethylene.html
description: "Structure of Ethylene (C2H4, 28.05 g/mol): rotatable 3D model, 2D skeletal formula, IUPAC name, SMILES, shape, polarity, uses and FAQ."
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-10-26
---
[MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [3D molecule models](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/) › 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.

**Quick answer:** Ethylene is **C2H4**, molar mass **28.05 g/mol**. Flat and symmetric; non-polar and barely soluble in water.

Atom labels Hydrogens Spin

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](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6325) |

![2D structural formula of Ethylene (C2H4)](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/img/ethylene.svg)

2D structure (skeletal formula) · [Draw it in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)

## 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](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/molar-mass-calculator.html).

## 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.

**Drawing structures for your notes?** MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams.

[Open MolDraw editor](https://www.moldraw.com/)

## Frequently 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.

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