Question

How many lone pairs are there around the central atom of carbon in tetrachloride?

1) 0
2) 1
3) 2
4) 3

Answer 1

Carbon tetrachloride has a tetrahedral molecular geometry with four bonds made by carbon's sp³ hybridized orbitals, which means there are 0 lone pairs around the central atom of carbon.

So option (1) is correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the number of lone pairs around the central atom of carbon in a carbon tetrachloride molecule (CCl4). Carbon tetrachloride has a molecular geometry that is tetrahedral, which is consistent with the carbon atom having four bonds and no lone pairs. Carbon has a valence electron configuration of 2s22p2, allowing it to form four sp3 hybridized orbitals after the hybridization of its 2s and 2p orbitals. These orbitals are used to form four sigma bonds with the chlorine atoms, filling them completely with electrons from the chlorine atoms and the carbon itself, leaving no lone pairs on the central carbon atom. Therefore, the correct answer is 0 lone pairs around the central carbon atom in tetrachloride.