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Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.22 - The Main Group ElementsProblem 22.47
Chapter 22, Problem 22.47

GeCl4 reacts with Cl- to give GeCl62-, but CCl4 does not react with excess Cl-. Explain.

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1
Identify the central atoms in GeCl_4 and CCl_4, which are Ge (Germanium) and C (Carbon), respectively.
Consider the electronic configuration and oxidation states of Ge and C. Ge can expand its octet due to available d-orbitals, while C cannot because it lacks d-orbitals.
Understand that GeCl_4 can accept additional Cl^- ions to form GeCl_6^{2-} because Ge can accommodate more than 8 electrons in its valence shell.
Recognize that CCl_4 does not react with Cl^- because carbon cannot expand its octet beyond 8 electrons, as it only has s and p orbitals available.
Conclude that the ability of Ge to expand its octet allows GeCl_4 to react with Cl^-, while the lack of d-orbitals in carbon prevents CCl_4 from doing the same.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Coordination Chemistry

Coordination chemistry involves the study of complex compounds formed between metal ions and ligands. In this context, GeCl<sub>4</sub> acts as a Lewis acid, accepting electron pairs from Cl<sup>-</sup> ligands to form the stable complex GeCl<sub>6</sub><sup>2-</sup>. Understanding how ligands interact with metal centers is crucial for explaining the reactivity of these compounds.
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Lewis Acids and Bases

Lewis acids are substances that can accept an electron pair, while Lewis bases donate an electron pair. GeCl<sub>4</sub> is a Lewis acid that can react with Cl<sup>-</sup> ions, whereas CCl<sub>4</sub> is a neutral molecule and does not exhibit Lewis acid behavior. This distinction is key to understanding why GeCl<sub>4</sub> reacts while CCl<sub>4</sub> does not.
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Oxidation States and Stability

The oxidation state of an element in a compound can influence its reactivity and stability. In GeCl<sub>4</sub>, germanium is in the +4 oxidation state, which allows it to stabilize additional negative charges when reacting with Cl<sup>-</sup>. In contrast, CCl<sub>4</sub> does not have a favorable oxidation state for further reaction with Cl<sup>-</sup>, leading to its inertness in this scenario.
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Related Practice
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Look at the location of elements A, B, C, and D in the following periodic table:

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Look at the location of elements A, B, C, and D in the following

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Which of the following oxides will be more soluble in acidic solution? (LO 22.14)

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