Question

Give reasons for the following:

A molecule of Carbon tetrachloride has four single covalent bonds.

Answer 1

Carbon tetrachloride $\left({\mathrm{CCl}}_4\right)$:

1. Electronic configuration of the atoms: $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{C}\to 2,4 \\ \mathrm{Cl}\to 2,8,7 \end{gathered}$$
2. Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$ has $4$ electrons in its valence shell and needs $4$more electron to achieve the inert gas configuration or octet state.
3. Chlorine $\left(\mathrm{Cl}\right)$ has $7$ electrons in its valence shell and need $1$ electron to achieve the inert gas configuration or octet state.
4. So, to share all $4$ valence electrons of $\mathrm{C}$, $4$atoms of $\mathrm{Cl}$ is required. Such that each $\mathrm{Cl}$ atom can get $1$ electron from $\mathrm{C}$ atom forming a single bond.
5.