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What is the electron geometry and molecular shape of carbon tetrabromide (\( \mathrm{CBr}_4 \)) without making a model? Do you expect the bonds in this molecule to be polar?

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Final answer:

Carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) has a tetrahedral electron geometry and molecular shape, with bond angles close to 109.5°. Each C-Br bond is polar, but the overall molecule is nonpolar due to its symmetrical shape.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron geometry of carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) is tetrahedral. This is because the carbon atom in the center is bonded to four bromine atoms, and there are no lone pairs on the central carbon atom. As a result, the molecular shape is also tetrahedral with bond angles close to 109.5°; however, due to the size of the bromine atoms, there may be slight distortions. As for the polarity of the bonds, while the C-Br bonds themselves are polar due to differences in electronegativity between carbon and bromine, the overall molecule is nonpolar because the molecular geometry is symmetrical, and the bond polarities cancel each other out.