Venn diagram style of showing the bonds in ethane.

 I hope you like the atomic colour coding - xref physics!

 Alkanes are relatively small molecules in which all the chemical bonds are covalent bonds.

 All the bonds in alkane molecules are single bonds i.e. C–C carbon – carbon or C–H carbon – hydrogen.

 Each carbon atom forms four single covalent bonds and hydrogen atoms form one single covalent bond.

 All single bonds are formed by sharing a pair of electrons e.g. one from each of a carbon atom and a hydrogen atom, or two carbon atoms contributing (sharing) an electron each to the covalent bond.

The diagram on the above left is the best style for ethane, clearly showing the sharing of the pairs of electrons for the single covalent bonds in the ethane molecule (in a sort of Venn diagram style).

Comments

Melting point of ethane -183 ^oC

Boiling point of ethane -89 ^oC

You would expect low values because of the weak intermolecular forces between small covalent molecules like ethene.

Ethene is a colourless gas at room temperature, with a strong hydrocarbon odour.

ALKANES: saturated hydrocarbons, structure and reacts with chlorine (GCSE level)

The chemistry of ALKANES and the petrochemical industry (Advanced A level)