Question

Which of the following has distorted tetrahedral shape?

• A. $Si{H}_4$
• B. $CC{l}_4$
• C. $C{H}_4$
• D. $CHC{l}_3$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $CHC{l}_3$

$CHC{l}_3$, $CC{l}_4$, $C{H}_4$ and $Si{H}_4$ are tetrahedral structures.

In $Si{H}_4$, $C{H}_4$ and $CC{l}_4$, all the atoms attached to the central atom are the same and have the same number of electrons so the electron-electron repulsion will be equal in all the atoms so, there will be no distortion (regular tetrahedron structure).

In $CHC{l}_3$, the attached atoms are different in which $Cl$ has more number of electrons which will create more repulsion and the size of $Cl$ is also more than that of $H$ so the bond angle b/w $Cl-C-Cl$ will be more than 109 degrees and $Cl-C-H$ will be less than 109 so, it is the distorted tetrahedron.

Option D is correct.