Carbon tetrachloride’s Lewis structure is a visual representation of its molecular geometry and bonding. It consists of four chlorine atoms surrounding a central carbon atom, forming a tetrahedral shape. Double bonds connect the carbon atom to each chlorine atom, resulting in a total of eight valence electrons around the carbon atom. The Lewis structure is essential for understanding the polarity and bonding behavior of this compound.
Carbon Tetrachloride Lewis Structure
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a colorless, non-flammable liquid with a boiling point of 76.5 °C. It is a member of the family of organochlorines, which are compounds that contain the carbon-chlorine bond. Carbon tetrachloride is a toxic compound and is used primarily as a solvent.
Lewis Structure
A Lewis structure is a diagram that shows the arrangement of electrons in a molecule. It is a simplified representation of the molecular structure and does not show all of the details of the molecule. The Lewis structure of carbon tetrachloride is shown below:
Cl | Cl--C--Cl | Cl
- The carbon atom is in the center of the molecule and is bonded to four chlorine atoms.
- The chlorine atoms are arranged in a tetrahedral shape around the carbon atom.
- The Lewis structure shows that the carbon atom has four valence electrons and each chlorine atom has seven valence electrons.
- The total number of valence electrons in the molecule is 32.
- The carbon atom has a formal charge of 0 and each chlorine atom has a formal charge of -1.
Molecular Geometry
The molecular geometry of carbon tetrachloride is tetrahedral. This means that the four chlorine atoms are arranged in a tetrahedral shape around the carbon atom. The bond angles between the carbon atom and the chlorine atoms are all 109.5°.
Polarity
Carbon tetrachloride is a nonpolar molecule. This means that the electronegativity of the carbon atom is the same as the electronegativity of the chlorine atoms. The bond between the carbon atom and the chlorine atoms is a nonpolar covalent bond.
Question 1:
What is the Lewis structure of carbon tetrachloride?
Answer:
The Lewis structure of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) represents the arrangement of valence electrons within the molecule. It consists of a central carbon atom surrounded by four chlorine atoms, connected by single bonds.
Question 2:
How many valence electrons are in a carbon tetrachloride molecule?
Answer:
Carbon has four valence electrons, and each chlorine atom has seven valence electrons. Therefore, a carbon tetrachloride molecule has a total of 4 + 4 x 7 = 32 valence electrons.
Question 3:
What is the molecular geometry of carbon tetrachloride?
Answer:
The molecular geometry of carbon tetrachloride is tetrahedral, with the carbon atom at the center and the four chlorine atoms arranged at the corners of a tetrahedron. The tetrahedral shape results from the repulsion between the electron pairs around the central carbon atom.
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