Question

The Lewis Dot Structure rule states that S=N-A. Recall that N represents the TOTAL number of valence electrons that all the atoms in a molecule will have once they achieve an octet. What is N for silicon tetrachloride, SiCl4?​

Answer 1

The total number of valence electrons for silicon tetrachloride, SiCl4, is 32.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Lewis Dot Structure rule, S=N-A, states that the sum of the valence electrons (N) for all the atoms in a molecule is equal to the sum of the shared electrons (A) and the nonbonding electrons (S). To find the total number of valence electrons for silicon tetrachloride, SiCl4, we need to add the valence electrons for each atom. Silicon (Si) is in Group 14 and has 4 valence electrons, while each chlorine (Cl) atom is in Group 17 and has 7 valence electrons. Therefore, the total number of valence electrons for SiCl4 is 4 + (4 x 7) = 32.