Final answer:
Carbon tetrachloride is a liquid at room temperature, likely insoluble in water, will not conduct electricity in a conductivity apparatus, and does not have a high melting point.
Step-by-step explanation:
If we consider the properties of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a covalent compound, we need to assess its physical and chemical characteristics. Looking at the options provided:
- A. Carbon tetrachloride is indeed a liquid at room temperature. This is because for a compound to be liquid at room temperature (around 20°C), its boiling point must be higher than that. Silicon tetrachloride, a compound similar in nature, has a boiling point of 57°C, suggesting that carbon tetrachloride would also be a liquid at room temperature due to its comparable molecular structure.
- B. Carbon tetrachloride is likely not soluble in water because it is a nonpolar solvent, and water is a polar solvent. The principle 'like dissolves like' suggests nonpolar solvents do not typically dissolve well in polar solvents.
- C. It will not likely light up a bulb in a conductivity apparatus because covalent compounds like CCl4 do not contain free ions, which are necessary for conductivity.
- D. It does not have a high melting point. Covalent compounds generally have lower melting points than ionic compounds, and carbon tetrachloride's molecular structure results in relatively weaker intermolecular forces, meaning it requires less energy to change state.