Chapter 9, Problem 91AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The difference in the chemical reactivity of silicon tetrachloride and carbon tetrachloride is to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Hybridization is the combining of atomic orbitals to form hybrid orbitals of equivalent energy.

One $s$

orbital combines with one, two, or three p-orbitals to form two $sp$, three $s{p}^2$, and four $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbitals.

The Lewis structure of a molecule tells the number of bond pairs surrounding an atom, which is equal to the number of hybrid orbitals formed by the atom.