Is CF4 an example of a central atom with an expanded octet?
No. Carbon has no d orbitals; therefore, it can't have an expanded octet.
CF4, also known as carbon tetrafluoride, is not an example of a central atom with an expanded octet. Carbon (C) has four valence electrons, and each fluorine (F) atom contributes one electron to form a single bond with carbon. This results in a total of eight electrons around the carbon atom, fulfilling the octet rule. Therefore, CF4 has a standard octet configuration and does not exhibit an expanded octet.
To determine if CF4 is an example of a central atom with an expanded octet, we need to analyze its molecular structure and the valence electron count of the central atom.
CF4 is a molecule of carbon tetrafluoride where carbon (C) is the central atom surrounded by four fluorine (F) atoms. Carbon is in the group 14 of the periodic table, which means it has four valence electrons. Fluorine is in group 17 of the periodic table, having seven valence electrons.
To find the total number of valence electrons in CF4, we add the valence electrons of carbon (4) to the valence electrons of fluorine (4 x 7 = 28), resulting in a total of 32 valence electrons.
Next, we construct the Lewis structure of CF4. Since carbon needs four additional electrons to complete its octet (a total of eight valence electrons), it forms four covalent bonds with four fluorine atoms.
In the Lewis structure of CF4, carbon is surrounded by four fluorine atoms, each sharing a single bond with the carbon atom. This arrangement results in a compound where carbon has a complete octet of electrons, with eight electrons (four from the covalent bonds and four from its valence electrons).
Hence, CF4 is not an example of a central atom with an expanded octet since carbon does not exceed the octet rule, which dictates that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration with eight valence electrons.