Final answer:
CH₄ (methane) is nonpolar and has a tetrahedral molecular geometry, with all four bonds being C-H, leading to minimal differences in electronegativity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following is nonpolar and has a tetrahedral molecular geometry: A. N₂ B. CH₄ C. CH₃Cl D. PH₃. We can eliminate options A, C, and D as follows:
- N₂ (option A) is a diatomic molecule with linear geometry, not tetrahedral.
- CH₃Cl (option C) is indeed tetrahedral, but the presence of a chlorine atom makes it polar due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and chlorine.
- PH₃ (option D) has trigonal pyramidal geometry rather than tetrahedral.
Thus, the correct answer is B. CH₄ (methane). It has a tetrahedral geometry with equal bond angles of 109.5 degrees. Additionally, since all four bonds in CH₄ are between carbon and hydrogen, the electronegativity difference is minimal, resulting in a nonpolar molecule.