Drawing the Lewis Structure for Acetone (C3H6O)

Viewing Notes:

  • The Acetone Lewis structure is an example of an organic functional group called a Ketone.
  • The Ketone functional group is made up on three Carbon atoms with an Oxygen atom double bonded to the center Carbon atom.
  • The Lewis structure for Acetone is the simpliest Ketone possible.
  • In the Lewis structure for Acetone there are a total of 24 valence electrons.


Transcript: This is the Acetone Lewis structure: also called propanone. It is what we call a ketone. So when you see that "-one", we're talking about a ketone. Ketones will always be a Carbon with a double bonded Oxygen, and Carbons on either side. So by recognizing that, we're almost done with the acetone Lewis structure. So we have 24 valence electrons for acetone. We'll put our Carbon in the center, with our Carbons on either side, with our double bonded Oxygen.

So we've used the three Carbons and the Oxygen. We have 6 Hydrogens that we need to put around the structure. Let's put them around the Carbons. So we have Hydrogen, Hydrogen, and we'll put our sixth Hydrogen right there. So we've used 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 out of the 24.

Everything has an octet except Oxygen, so let's put those last 2 pairs up here with the Oxygen. Now we've used all 24 valence electrons. Each of the atoms in acetone has an octet, and we're done. That's the Lewis strucure for acetone. If you know it's a ketone, you'll know it has this functional group in it, and that'll make it a lot easier to draw.

This is Dr. B., and thanks for watching.