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What is the molecular shape of silicon tetrabromide?

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Final answer:

The molecular shape of silicon tetrabromide is tetrahedral, which is a symmetrical structure arising from sp³ hybridization of the silicon atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecular shape of silicon tetrabromide is tetrahedral. Silicon atoms have a valence shell electron configuration of 3s²3p², which commonly leads to the formation of tetrahedral structures when it is sp³ hybridized. In silicon tetrabromide (SiBr4), the silicon atom is at the center of the tetrahedron, with four bromine atoms at the corners. This spatial arrangement of atoms gives the molecule a symmetrical shape that is nonpolar, as seen in similar compounds like silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4).

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