After drawing the Lewis structure of CBr4, what are the electron domain geometry and molecular geometry around the central carbon atom?

• A. Electron domain geometry: octahedral; Molecular geometry: square planar
• B. Electron domain geometry: tetrahedral; Molecular geometry: trigonal pyramidal
• C. Electron domain geometry: tetrahedral; Molecular geometry: tetrahedral
• D. Electron domain geometry: trigonal planar; Molecular geometry: trigonal planar

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the central atom in CBr\_4, which is carbon (C), and count the number of atoms bonded to it. Carbon is bonded to four bromine (Br) atoms.
2. Step 2: Draw the Lewis structure for CBr\_4. Carbon has 4 valence electrons and each bromine has 7 valence electrons. Carbon forms four single bonds with four bromine atoms, using all four of its valence electrons.
3. Step 3: Determine the number of electron domains around the central carbon atom. Each single bond counts as one electron domain, so there are 4 electron domains around carbon.
4. Step 4: Use the VSEPR theory to predict the electron domain geometry. Four electron domains around a central atom arrange themselves in a tetrahedral geometry to minimize repulsion.
5. Step 5: Since all four electron domains are bonding pairs (no lone pairs on carbon), the molecular geometry is the same as the electron domain geometry, which is tetrahedral.