The small molecule ethylene, c2h4, is used by plants to quicken the ripening of certain fruits and vegetables. How many electrons are involved in the interaction between the two carbon atoms of ethylene? State your answer as a number.

Four electrons are involved in the interaction between the two carbon atoms of ethylene.

Explanation:

Carbon belongs to Group 4 elements with atomic number 6. Hence, in neutral state it contains 6 electrons. Following are the electronic configurations of carbon;

Ground State : 1s², 2s², 2px¹, 2py¹, 2pz⁰

Excited State : 1s², 2s¹, 2px¹, 2py¹, 2pz¹

As shown in excited state configuration carbon have four unpaired electrons. In ethylene two out of four electrons of each carbon make two single covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms and the remaining two electrons of each carbon make one single and one pi bond with neighbor carbon atom. Hence, four electrons of both carbons are involved in making two bonds with each other.