Question

Draw a line-bond structure for vinyl chloride, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}\), the starting material from which PVC [poly(vinyl chloride)] plastic is made.

Short answer

The line-bond structure for vinyl chloride, \\( C_2{H}_3{Cl} \\), shows a double bond between the two carbon atoms, with chlorine attached to one and the hydrogens distributed to fulfill each carbon's four bonds.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Atoms and Bonds Needed

Vinyl chloride is composed of 2 carbon atoms (C), 3 hydrogen atoms (H), and 1 chlorine atom (Cl). Since it is an alkene, there is a double bond between the two carbon atoms. Our task is to position these atoms appropriately to draw the line-bond structure.

Draw the Carbon Skeleton

Start by arranging the two carbon atoms in a straight line and draw a double bond between them. This double bond is represented by two parallel lines, indicating the shared electrons between these carbon atoms.

Add Hydrogen Atoms

Each carbon atom in a molecule generally forms four bonds. With the double bond in place, add three hydrogen atoms around the carbon atoms to ensure each carbon ends up with four bonds each. Place two hydrogens on one carbon and one on the other to suit the molecular formula \({C}_2{H}_3{Cl}\).

Incorporate the Chlorine Atom

Attach the chlorine atom to the carbon atom that has only one hydrogen attached. Ensure that each atom satisfies its typical valency: carbon with four bonds, hydrogen with one, and chlorine with one.

Key concepts

Line-bond structure

In organic chemistry, the line-bond structure is a simplified way to represent molecules. It uses lines to show chemical bonds between atoms. Carbon atoms are the backbone of organic molecules, and this representation helps visualize how they bond.
For vinyl chloride, we draw:

• A line between two carbon atoms to indicate a bond.
• Two parallel lines for a double bond.
• Lines extending from carbon for hydrogen and chlorine attachments.

Such structures are minimalist; they show connections without repeatedly drawing elements like 'H' for hydrogen, except when needed for clarity.

Alkene

Alkenes are hydrocarbons containing carbon-carbon double bonds. They have the general formula \\(C_nH_{2n}\) if unbranched and without additional elements.
The presence of double bonds gives alkenes unique properties, such as:

• Brightness in reactivity compared to alkanes due to electron-rich double bonds.
• Potential to participate in addition reactions, making them useful starting points for making plastics like PVC.

Vinyl chloride is a basic alkene, with a double bond playing a key role in its structure and reactivity.

Carbon atoms

Carbon atoms are fundamental to organic chemistry. They form the heart of organic compounds, capable of making four bonds. This versatility allows carbon to create complex structures.
In vinyl chloride, each of the two carbon atoms participates in forming:

• Two bonds in a double bond connecting the carbon atoms.
• Bonds to hydrogen atoms.
• One bond to the chlorine atom.

The ability of carbon atoms to easily bond with one another and other elements makes them crucial to the formation of a wide variety of organic molecules.

Hydrogen atoms

Hydrogen atoms are the simplest and most abundant atoms in organic molecules. They generally form only one bond. Due to their small size and flexibility, they are essential in fulfilling the valency of carbon atoms in a molecule.
In vinyl chloride:

• Each hydrogen atom forms a single bond with a carbon atom.
• There are three hydrogen atoms distributed between the two carbon atoms, with one carbon holding two hydrogens and the other one hydrogen, matching with the \\({C}_2{H}_3{Cl}\) formula.

Their simple bonding nature helps give shapes and structures to organic compounds.

Double bond

Double bonds are a fundamental feature of many organic compounds, making molecules like vinyl chloride more reactive than compounds with only single bonds.
They consist of:

• Two pairs of shared electrons between two atoms.
• Two lines in a line-bond structure, indicating stronger bonds.

In vinyl chloride, this extra pair of electrons holds the two carbon atoms tightly together, contributing to vinyl chloride's characteristic traits as an alkene and influencing its chemical behavior in reactions, including polymerization into PVC.