Loading…

CCl4 Compound Name

What is the compound name of CCl4, and how is it named using the rules for binary compounds of nonmetals?

Subject: General Chemistry Chapter: Chemical Compounds Topic: Naming Binary Compounds of Nonmetals Answer included
ccl4 compound name carbon tetrachloride tetrachloromethane binary molecular compound covalent compound naming Greek prefixes chemistry chloride suffix -ide naming nonmetal compounds
Accepted answer Answer included

CCl4 compound name

The keyword ccl4 compound name asks for the correct name of the molecular formula CCl4. Because both carbon and chlorine are nonmetals, this compound is named as a binary molecular (covalent) compound using Greek prefixes.

Answer: carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)
Systematic name: tetrachloromethane

Step-by-step naming (binary compounds of nonmetals)

Naming a binary molecular compound follows three core rules:

  1. Name the first element as the element name (carbon). A prefix is used only if there is more than one atom of the first element; for a single atom, the prefix mono- is typically omitted.
  2. Name the second element with its root plus the suffix -ide (chlorine → chloride).
  3. Add a Greek prefix to indicate the number of atoms of the second element (4 chlorines → tetra-).

Carbon + tetra + chloride → carbon tetrachloride

Why “tetra-” is used in CCl4

The subscript “4” in CCl4 means four chlorine atoms are present for each carbon atom. The prefix for 4 is tetra-, so the second element becomes tetrachloride.

Number of atoms Prefix Example (second element)
1 mono- monoxide
2 di- dioxide
3 tri- trichloride
4 tetra- tetrachloride
5 penta- pentafluoride
6 hexa- hexabromide

Visualization: molecular structure of CCl4

Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl₄) Structure C Cl Cl Cl Cl Tetrahedral Geometry: Central Carbon + 4 Chlorines → "Tetra" prefix.
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) features a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. In chemical naming, the prefix "tetra-" explicitly indicates these four chlorine atoms.

Common naming pitfalls

  • Not ionic: CCl4 is not named as “carbon(IV) chloride” in introductory molecular naming; the standard classroom name is carbon tetrachloride.
  • No “mono-” on the first element: “monocarbon” is not used; the name starts with carbon.
  • Second element ends in -ide: chlorine becomes chloride.

Final answer

The ccl4 compound name is carbon tetrachloride (systematic name: tetrachloromethane).

Vote on the accepted answer
Upvotes: 0 Downvotes: 0 Score: 0
Community answers No approved answers yet

No approved community answers are published yet. You can submit one below.

Submit your answer Moderated before publishing

Plain text only. Your name is required. Links, HTML, and scripts are blocked.

Fresh

Most recent questions

462 questions · Sorted by newest first

Showing 1–10 of 462
per page
  1. May 3, 2026 Published
    Adsorb vs Absorb in General Chemistry
    General Chemistry Solutions and Their Physical Properties Pressure Effect on Solubility of Gases
  2. May 3, 2026 Published
    Benedict's Qualitative Solution: Reducing Sugar Test and Redox Chemistry
    General Chemistry Electrochemistry Balancing the Equation for a Redox Reaction in a Basic Solution
  3. May 3, 2026 Published
    Calcium Hypochlorite Bleaching Powder: Formula, Ions, and Bleaching Action
    General Chemistry Chemical Compounds Naming Salts with Polyatomic Ions
  4. May 3, 2026 Published
    Can Sugar Be a Covalent Compound?
    General Chemistry Chemical Bonds Lewis Structure of Polyatomic Ions with Central Element ( N P)
  5. May 3, 2026 Published
    NH3 Electron Geometry: Lewis Structure and VSEPR Shape
    General Chemistry Chemical Bonds Lewis Structure of Group 5a Central Atoms
  6. May 3, 2026 Published
    Valence Electrons of Magnesium in Magnesium Hydride
    General Chemistry Electrons in Atoms Electron Configuration
  7. May 2, 2026 Published
    Amylum Starch in General Chemistry
    General Chemistry Chemical Compounds Molecular Mass and Formula Mass
  8. May 2, 2026 Published
    Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
    General Chemistry Chemical Bonds Lewis Structure of Group 4a Central Atoms
  9. May 2, 2026 Published
    Chemical Reaction Ingredients Crossword
    General Chemistry Chemical Reactions Balancing Chemical Reactions
  10. May 2, 2026 Published
    Did the Precipitated AgCl Dissolve?
    General Chemistry Solubility and Complex Ion Equilibria Equilibria Involving Complex Ions
Showing 1–10 of 462
Open the calculator for this topic