Question

Carbon has four valence electrons, and chlorine has seven valence electrons. If carbon covalently bonds with chorine, which of the following would represent the Lewis dot (electron dot) structure? (2 points)

Answer 1

Carbon most commonly would bond with one to four chlorines, sharing one of its electrons with chlorine’s 7. For example, CCl4.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Carbon has atomic number of 6 with electronic configuration given as:

$C=1s^22s^2p^2$

Chlorine has atomic number of 17 with electronic configuration given as:

$Cl=1s^22s^2p^63s^23p^5$

Carbon atom require 4 more electrons to completes its valence shell  where as chlorine atom require 1 more electron.

So, in order to gain stable electronic configuration ,1 atom of carbon will form 4 covalent bonds with 4 different chlorine atoms, Hence giving compound named carbon tetrachloride.

$C+4Cl\rightarrow CCl_4$