Question

Is CCl₄ Polar Or Nonpolar?

Answer 1

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is an organic compound that can be formed by the halogenation reaction between methane and chlorine in the presence of sunlight.

• In this compound, the chlorine is arranged in a tetrahedron from around the carbon atom, giving a symmetric arrangement.
• There is a partial charge separation in covalent bonds due to electronegativity difference which causes the polarity of a bond.
• Chlorine has a high electronegativity which makes the carbon atom slightly electropositive.
• This electronegativity difference between carbon and chlorine makes their bond polar.
• But the bond polarity alone cannot determine the nature of the whole complex.
• Due to the four equidistant bonds in this compound being arranged symmetrically, the dipole moment is directed towards the more electronegative chlorine atoms.
• The vector is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, Therefore, the dipole moment of one bond cancels the other bond placed opposite to it.
• So, compounds have a net-zero dipole moment
• .

Hence, Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) has non-polar covalent bonds between carbon and chlorine.