Structural Formula
Shows the actual bonding of atoms to each other.
A structural formula is a type of molecular representation that shows the arrangement of atoms within a molecule. It provides detailed information about the connectivity and bonding of atoms in a molecule by showing all the atoms and their bonds using lines, and indicates the positions of any non-bonded electrons.
For example, the structural formula of methane (CH4) is written as:
H H
| |
H – C – H
|
H
This shows the carbon atom (C) at the center, with its four hydrogen (H) atoms attached to it by single lines, indicating single covalent bonds. The lines represent the shared pairs of electrons between the atoms. The structural formula accurately depicts the molecule’s molecular geometry and its stereochemistry, demonstrating the spatial arrangement of the atoms in three-dimensional space.
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