Chapter SH, Problem 18.9APP

To determine

To Establish:The formula for carbon tetrachloride.

Answer to Problem 18.9APP

For carbon tetrachloride the formula is ${\text{CCl}}_4$ .

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The symbol and oxidation number of the positive ion:

Carbon: ${\text{C}}^{4+}$

The symbol and oxidation number of the negative ion:

Chlorine: ${\text{Cl}}^{1-}$

First write the symbol of the element having positive charge followed by the symbol of the element having negative charge.

  ${\text{C}}^{4+}{\text{Cl}}^{1-}$

Without the sign, one ion’s charge forms the subscript of the other.

  ${\text{CCl}}_4$

In this case, the subscripts already are the lowest whole numbers that maintain the ratio of the ions.

By determining whether the compound is neutral the formula obtained can be checked. The charge on one carbon ion is $4+$ , and the charge on four chlorine is $4-$ . The formula is correct since the compound is neutral.

Conclusion:

For carbon tetrachloridethe formula is ${\text{CCl}}_4$ .