Is C2Cl2 a bent molecule

If this is Cl-C(triple bond)C-Cl it is a linear molecule. The triple bond assures that.

To determine if C2Cl2 (also known as dichloroacetylene) is a bent molecule, we need to analyze its molecular geometry.

Firstly, let's consider its Lewis structure. Carbon has a valence of 4, while chlorine has a valence of 1. Since there are two carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms, the total valence electrons in C2Cl2 will be:

(2 Carbon atoms × 4 valence electrons each) + (2 Chlorine atoms × 1 valence electron each) = 8 + 2 = 10 valence electrons.

To draw the Lewis structure, we start by connecting the two carbon atoms with a double bond (two shared electrons) and placing the chlorine atoms on either side.

C≡C
Cl Cl

We then distribute the remaining six valence electrons around the atoms to fulfill the octet rule:

Cl-C≡C-Cl

Now, let's examine the molecular geometry. C2Cl2 contains two regions of electron density around the central carbon atom, consisting of the triple bond and the single bond to one of the chlorine atoms. This qualifies as linear geometry.

Since linear geometry does not involve any bending, we can conclude that C2Cl2 is not a bent molecule, but rather a linear molecule.