Final answer:
CH₄ has a lower boiling point than CCl₄ because it is less polarizable and has weaker dispersion forces, lacking the stronger dipole-dipole interactions present in CCl₄.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in boiling points between CH4 and CCl4 can be attributed to the types and strengths of the intermolecular forces (IMFs) present in each compound. Methane (CH4) has a lower boiling point than carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) because it is a smaller and less polarizable molecule, which means that its dispersion forces are weaker. Additionally, CH4 does not have a permanent dipole moment and thus cannot form dipole-dipole interactions, which are present in CCl4 due to its larger, polarizable molecules containing more electrons which induce stronger dispersion forces. As a result, CCl4 requires more energy to overcome these forces, leading to a higher boiling point compared to CH4.