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Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Non è quello che usi tu?Cambia libro di testo
Capitolo 22, Problema 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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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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Coordination Numbers

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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Lewis Acids and Bases

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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Oxidation Numbers