Answer to Question #229294 in Inorganic Chemistry for David Gio

Question

Why CCl4 is non-polar but CHCl3 is polar? Give reasons.

Answer 1

CCl4 is nonpolar because the bond polarity gets canceled with each other due to the symmetrical geometrical structure of its molecule.

CHCl3 is polar due to its tetrahedral molecular structure and difference between the electronegativity of C, H and, CL. Chlorine atoms are more electronegative than carbon and hydrogen and lie at three vertices of the pyramid and pull the negative charge to its direction making it a polar molecule with a dipole in a downward direction.