Question

Between ccl four and CH₄, which should have the higher boiling point?
1) ccl four
2) CH₄

Answer 1

Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) should have a higher boiling point than methane (CH4) due to its larger size, more electrons, and the larger electron cloud that contributes to stronger van der Waals forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

Between CCL4 (carbon tetrachloride) and CH4 (methane), carbon tetrachloride should have a higher boiling point. This is because CCL4 is a larger molecule with more electrons, leading to stronger van der Waals forces (London dispersion forces) compared to CH4, which is a smaller molecule with fewer electrons. Additionally, CCL4 has a polar C-Cl bond, though it is tetrahedral and the dipoles cancel out, the polarizable electron cloud contributes to stronger intermolecular attractions compared to the nonpolar CH4.