![]() So instead of completely transferring the electrons through an ionic bond, the atom would prefer a covalent bond via sharing of electrons. ![]() The electrons would be under strong molecular attraction making it difficult for them to leave the atom. This is the case since an equal number of valence electrons participate and are present at an equal distance from one another, as well as with an equal force of attraction on the other atom.Īs a result, the smaller an atom is, the closer it is to the nucleus. When it comes to forming covalent bonds between two atoms, the covalent radius is used to determine how far apart the participating valence electrons of both atoms are.Įach atom’s covalent radius would be half of the distance between the two nuclei in the case of forming a covalent radius. Atomic SizeĪnother property that facilitates the creation of a strong covalent bond is the smaller atomic size. Owing to the high ionization enthalpy of both elements it is easier to form a covalent bond between them. This is because it is very difficult for them to lose their valence electrons, which are needed for ionic bonding.Ĭhlorine has a very high ionization energy of chlorine is 1251.2 kJ/mole while carbon has 1086.5 kJ/mole. The simple reason is that they can’t form cations. The formation of a covalent bond is favored when the reacting atoms have comparable electron affinities.Ītoms that have high ionization energies prefer to form covalent bonds. It refers to the energy difference that occurs when an atom gains a valence electron. Let me describe in detail how these factors favor a covalent bond. The formation of the covalent bond between the atoms is influenced by several factors as shown below: It also means that there is no charge separation between those two atoms or that their electronegativity is identical.Ī polar covalent bond is formed due to the unequal sharing of electron pairs between two atoms.Īccording to the Pauling scale, the electronegativity gap between the bonded atoms should be between 0.4 and 1.7 or approximately 2.įactors affecting the formation of Covalent Bond In a non-polar covalent bond, the electronegativity difference of the bonded atoms is usually very small. Such elements’ atoms try to share electrons with atoms of other elements or with the same element’s atoms, resulting in an octet arrangement in both valence shells.Ī covalent bond can be polar or nonpolar based on electronegativity difference.Ī non-polar covalent bond is formed when two atoms share electrons equally. The atom which loses electrons becomes a positively charged ion or cation whereas the atom which gains electrons becomes a negatively charged ion or anion.Įlements with extremely high ionization energies can’t lose electrons, and those with extremely low electron affinity can’t accept them. First, I will explain the types of bonds.Īn ionic bond formation takes place due to the permanent transfer of valence (outermost) electrons of one atom to another atom.Įlectrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions causes these bonds to form. Now let me discuss the covalent nature of CCl4 in detail.īefore we dig into the details of covalent bonds in methane, let’s start from the basics. This makes CCl4 a covalent compound.Īs chlorine and carbon atoms share their outer electrons, chlorine attains the electronic configuration of argon and carbon attains that of neon.Īs a result, while forming covalent bonds both the chlorine and carbon atoms essentially have outer shells with 8 electrons. The bond so formed between carbon and chlorine is a covalent bond since it is formed by sharing electrons. Since each chlorine atom is one electron short of an octet configuration (complete shell) and carbon is 4 electrons short of a complete valence shell of eight, four chlorine atoms share electrons with the four valence electrons of carbon, resulting in full outer shells for all five atoms. Is CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) a covalent compound? In the next part, we’ll find out.įour chlorine atoms and one carbon atom make up a CCl4 molecule. The following is the reaction:ĬH4 (Methane) + 4Cl2 (chlorine) -> CCl4 + 4 HCl (acid) These days, tetrachloromethane is manufactured by treating methane with chlorine. ![]() Chloroform and chlorine were combined to make it. Henri Victor Regnault, a French chemist, first produced tetrachloromethane in the year 1839. It was a popular solvent in organic chemistry, but, it is rarely used today because of its adverse health effects. Its boiling point is 76 degrees Celcius.ĬCl4 is a poisonous gas that depletes the ozone layer and is often known as a greenhouse gas. It has a melting point of about -23 degrees Celcius. At room temperature, CCl4 exists as a liquid. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor.
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