Lewis diagram of CCl₄

Understand the Problem

The question asks for the Lewis diagram (also known as Lewis structure or electron dot diagram) of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). This involves representing the valence electrons of each atom in the molecule and how they are arranged to form chemical bonds.

Answer

CCl₄ has a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms, a tetrahedral shape, and is nonpolar.

The Lewis structure of CCl₄ (carbon tetrachloride) consists of a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. It has a tetrahedral shape and is nonpolar due to the symmetrical arrangement of the chlorine atoms, which cancels out the bond dipoles.

Answer for screen readers

The Lewis structure of CCl₄ (carbon tetrachloride) consists of a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. It has a tetrahedral shape and is nonpolar due to the symmetrical arrangement of the chlorine atoms, which cancels out the bond dipoles.

More Information

The CCl₄ molecule is nonpolar, even though the individual carbon-chlorine bonds are polar. This is because the tetrahedral geometry causes the bond dipoles to cancel each other out, resulting in no net dipole moment for the molecule.

Tips

A common mistake is to assume that because the bonds between carbon and chlorine are polar, the molecule itself is polar. Remembering to consider the molecular geometry is crucial for determining overall polarity.

AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information

Thank you for voting!