How do you draw the Lewis structure of CS₂?

CS₂ has 16 valence electrons. Carbon is central, bonded to two sulfurs. Two single bonds use 4 electrons; 12 remain. Each S gets 3 lone pairs (6 electrons each), using 12. But C only has 4 electrons from single bonds.

Lewis Structure of CS₂ (Carbon Disulfide)

What is the Lewis structure of CS₂?

CS₂ has 16 valence electrons, 4 bonding electron pairs, and 4 lone pairs. CS₂ has 16 valence electrons and is analogous to CO₂. Two C=S double bonds use 8 electrons, and each sulfur has 2 lone pairs (4 electrons). The molecule is linear with all formal charges equal to zero.

Lewis structure of CS₂ (Carbon Disulfide)

Formula	CS₂
Name	Carbon Disulfide
Total Valence Electrons	16
Lone Pairs	4
Has Resonance	No
Concept	Multiple Bonds
Difficulty	Intermediate

Step 1: Count Valence Electrons

C has 4, each S (Group 6A) has 6: 4 + 2(6) = 16 total.

Step 2: Draw the Skeleton

Carbon is central, bonded to two sulfurs. Two single bonds use 4 electrons; 12 remain.

Step 3: Distribute Lone Pairs

Each S gets 3 lone pairs (6 electrons each), using 12. But C only has 4 electrons from single bonds.

Step 4: Form Multiple Bonds

Convert one lone pair from each S into a bonding pair, forming two C=S double bonds. C now has 8 electrons, and each S has 8 (1 double bond + 2 lone pairs).

Step 5: Check Formal Charges

C: FC = 4 - 0 - ½(8) = 0
S: FC = 6 - 4 - ½(4) = 0

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