Is CCl4 ionic or covalent? Is I2 ionic or covalent?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
CCl₄ (carbon tetrachloride) is a covalent compound, and I₂ (iodine molecule) is also covalent.
Explanation:
1. CCl₄ (Carbon Tetrachloride)
CCl₄ consists of a carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. Each C–Cl bond is formed by sharing a pair of electrons between carbon and chlorine atoms. This is a nonmetal–nonmetal combination, which typically results in covalent bonding. Although chlorine is more electronegative than carbon, the difference in electronegativity is not large enough to make the bond ionic. The electronegativity of carbon is about 2.5, and that of chlorine is about 3.0, giving a difference of only 0.5. This is within the range of polar covalent bonds, not ionic ones.
Also, the molecule has a symmetrical tetrahedral shape, and the dipoles of the individual C–Cl bonds cancel out, making the molecule nonpolar overall. Covalent compounds like CCl₄ usually exist as discrete molecules and tend to be poor conductors of electricity in water, as they do not form ions.
2. I₂ (Diatomic Iodine)
I₂ is a molecule made of two iodine atoms. Since both atoms are identical, they have the same electronegativity (2.5), so they share electrons equally. This results in a nonpolar covalent bond.
I₂ exists as discrete molecules held together by weak van der Waals forces in the solid and liquid states. It does not dissociate into ions in water, so it does not conduct electricity and is not considered ionic.
Conclusion:
- CCl₄ is a covalent compound (specifically nonpolar overall but has polar bonds).
- I₂ is a covalent molecule with a completely nonpolar bond.
Both substances are made from nonmetals and involve electron sharing rather than electron transfer, which characterizes covalent bonding.
