Question

What is the formula of Carbon tetrachloride?

Answer 1

Step 1: Symbols

Carbon tetrachloride is made up of Carbon and Chlorine atoms.

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Symbol}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{atom}=\mathrm{C} \\ \mathrm{Symbol}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Chlorine}\mathrm{atom}=\mathrm{Cl} \end{gathered}$$

Step 2: Valency

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Valency}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{atom}=4 \\ \mathrm{Valency}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Chlorine}\mathrm{atom}=1 \end{gathered}$$

Step 3: Crisscross and write the formula

• In this method, the numerical value of each of the ion charges is crossed over to become the subscript of the other ion.
• Criss-cross the valency of each atom and write it as subscripts. And also the word “tetra” represents $4$ in number. So tetrachloride means there are $4$Chlorine atoms. After crisscrossing the valency, the formula is ${\mathrm{C}}_1{\mathrm{Cl}}_4$. Ignore subscript $1$.

Thus, The formula of Carbon tetrachloride is ${\mathrm{CCl}}_4$.