What is the molecular shape of C2Cl2?

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Jan 12, 2015

The molecular shape of the C_2Cl_2 molecule is linear.

Starting with its Lewis structure, the C_2Cl_2 molecule has a total of 22 valence electrons, 4 from each of the two carbon atoms and 7 from each of the two chlorine atoms. Thus, its Lewis structure must account for 22 valence electrons.

![http://www.gopixpic.com/1275/c2cl2-lewis-structure-165684060png/http:%7C%7Cimgdocstoccdncom%7Cthumb%7Corig%7C165684060*png/](useruploads.socratic.org)

So, the two carbon atoms are bonded to the two chlorine atoms through a single bond, and through a triple bond to each other. The triple bond accounts for "3" * "2 = 6" electrons, while the two single bonds add "2" * "2 = 4" electrons.

The 3 lone pairs around each of the two chloride atoms add up to "2" * "(3" * "2) = 12" electrons, which brings the total to the required 22 electrons.

According to VSEPR Theory, the molecular geometry of the molecule will be linear, since each of the two carbon atoms has a coordination number and a steric number equal to 2, with a bond angle of "180"^@.

![http://www.chemeddl.org/alfresco/service/chemeddl/molecules/search.html

Related questions
See all questions in VSEPR
Impact of this question
39855 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License