Tellurium tetrachloride Lewis Structure

Tellurium tetrachloride Lewis Structure: Cl₄Te Lewis Structure, seesaw Geometry, sp3d Hybridization & Polarity

Tellurium tetrachloride Key Facts

The Tellurium tetrachloride Lewis structure is Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond and Te–Cl single bond; the central Te has 5 electron domains (1 lone pair), giving a trigonal bipyramidal electron-domain arrangement and a seesaw molecular geometry with a ≈90° / 120° bond angle. Te is best described as sp3d-hybridized, and Tellurium tetrachloride is polar because the seesaw shape (and/or unequal terminal atoms) prevents cancellation of the bond dipoles.

Figure 1: Lewis Structure of Tellurium tetrachloride (Cl₄Te)

Chemical Formula	Cl₄Te
CAS Number	10026-07-0
Total Valence Electrons	34
Lewis Structure	Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond and Te–Cl single bond
Electron-Domain Geometry	trigonal bipyramidal
Molecular Geometry	seesaw
Hybridization Model	sp3d (central Te)
Bond Angle	≈90° / 120°
Polarity	Polar molecule

PubChem (CID 61443) and NIST list Tellurium tetrachloride as Cl ₄Te with CAS 10026-07-0; molecular weight ≈ 269.4 g/mol. View CAS 10026-07-0 dictionary details on Guidechem →

Applications of Tellurium tetrachloride (CAS 10026-07-0)

This organic compound is used as a solvent, intermediate or specialty reagent in fine-chemical, pharmaceutical and materials synthesis; specify grade and impurity profile when sourcing.

Solvent / Reagent Medium for reactions, extraction or formulation.

Intermediate Building block for downstream derivatives.

Specialty Use Targeted role in pharma/fragrance/materials.

Procurement Note "Tellurium tetrachloride" is supplied in multiple commercial grades and package sizes. Specify purity, grade, moisture/impurity limits, package (cylinder, drum or bulk) and intended process, and use CAS 10026-07-0 as the primary identifier when screening suppliers; always confirm regional availability and safety documentation (SDS).

Step 1 - Valence Electrons & Central Atom

To draw the Tellurium tetrachloride Lewis structure we first count the total valence electrons. Cl₄Te contains 4×7 (Cl) + 6 (Te); the net charge of 0 gives a total of 34 valence electrons to place.

The central atom is Te. It is the least electronegative atom capable of forming multiple bonds and is surrounded by the more electronegative terminal atom(s); hydrogen, when present, always occupies a terminal position. Electronegativity considerations place the electron density toward the terminal atom(s).

Valence-electron count

Total valence electrons = 4×7 (Cl) + 6 (Te) = 34 electrons.

Step 2 - Lewis Structure & Electron Distribution

Place Te at the center and connect each surrounding atom with a single bond, complete octets on the terminal atoms, and place any remaining electrons on the central atom. The resulting electron distribution is: Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond and Te–Cl single bond; one lone pair on Te.

Counting bonding and nonbonding electrons around Te therefore satisfies the octet/expanded-octet requirement for the drawn structure.

Te–Cl Te–Cl Te–Cl Te–Cl

Te: 1 lone pair, 4 bonding domains

4 bonding domains + 1 lone pairs = 5 electron domains

Expanded Octet: d-Orbital Participation Central Te belongs to period 3 or below, so it can accommodate more than eight electrons: low-lying d orbitals become available and the seesaw arrangement with 5 domains reflects this expanded valence shell. The octet rule alone does not apply to such hypervalent species.

Step 3 - VSEPR Theory & Geometry

VSEPR theory states that the 5 electron domains around Te arrange to minimize mutual repulsion, giving an trigonal bipyramidal electron-domain geometry.

Because 1 of these domains are lone pair(s) — and lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs — the observed molecular geometry is seesaw; the Te bond angle is set to ≈90° / 120° rather than the ideal value for the electron-domain geometry.

Repulsion hierarchy

A useful VSEPR approximation is: lone pair–lone pair repulsion > lone pair–bonding pair repulsion > bonding pair–bonding pair repulsion. With 1 lone pair(s) on Te, the lone-pair domains occupy positions that minimize overall repulsion while pushing the bonding domains (and therefore the bonded atoms) closer together.

Hybridization & Formal Charge

In the conventional localized-bond model, Te uses sp3d hybrid orbitals to form the 5 equivalent electron-domain directions (4 bonding + 1 lone pair).

Formal-charge check

Formal charge on central Te = V − N − ½B = 6 − 2 − ½×8 = 0. The preferred Lewis structure carries zero formal charge on the central atom (and on the terminals), so it is the dominant contributor.

Modeling Note Modeling Note: sp3d / sp3d hybridization is a convenient localized-bond teaching model. Modern quantum-chemical descriptions of hypervalent Tellurium tetrachloride use molecular orbitals and do not require populated d orbitals as the primary bonding picture.

Is Tellurium tetrachloride Polar or Nonpolar?

Tellurium tetrachloride is polar. The seesaw shape prevents cancellation of the bond dipoles. The bond dipoles do not cancel, leaving a net molecular dipole, which strongly influences solvation behavior and intermolecular interactions.

Expert Quote — Structural Chemistry Perspective

The decisive structural fact is not simply that the individual bonds are polar; it is whether molecular symmetry allows their vector sum to vanish. In Tellurium tetrachloride the seesaw arrangement prevents cancellation, so a permanent dipole remains.

Interpretation consistent with standard VSEPR / molecular-geometry references.

This polarity profile underpins its behavior as a solvent, reactant or process intermediate; when sourcing, specify grade and container compatibility.

Structural Comparison Table

Species	Formula	Central Atom	Electron Domains	Molecular Geometry	Polarity
Tellurium tetrachloride	Cl₄Te	Te	5	seesaw	Polar
Carbon dioxide	CO₂	C	2	linear	Nonpolar
Carbon monoxide	CO	C	2	linear (diatomic)	Polar
Carbon disulfide	CS₂	C	2	linear	Nonpolar

Practice question Starting from the 34 valence electrons of Cl₄Te, draw the Lewis structure and confirm the central Te atom is sp3d-hybridized with seesaw geometry. What happens to the bond angle if one terminal atom is replaced by a more electronegative substituent?

Looking for industrial bulk or specified-grade supplies of Tellurium tetrachloride (CAS 10026-07-0)? Browse Supplier on Guidechem →

FAQs

Is Cl₄Te polar or nonpolar?

Tellurium tetrachloride is polar. Its seesaw geometry (and/or unequal terminal atoms) stops the bond dipoles from cancelling.

What is the Lewis structure of Tellurium tetrachloride?

Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond, Te–Cl single bond and Te–Cl single bond; one lone pair on Te. It uses all 34 valence electrons and the preferred structure carries zero formal charge on the central atom.

What is the bond angle in Tellurium tetrachloride?

The Te angle is about ≈90° / 120°. Lone-pair repulsion compresses the angle from the ideal trigonal bipyramidal value.

What is the hybridization of Te in Tellurium tetrachloride?

The conventional model is sp3d. Tellurium tetrachloride has 5 electron domains around the central Te.

What is the CAS number of Tellurium tetrachloride?

The CAS number is 10026-07-0. PubChem (CID 61443) and NIST identify this with Cl₄Te; use it to locate suppliers and database records.

References

PubChem CID 61443, Tellurium tetrachloride. Molecular formula, CAS number, molecular weight and chemical identity.
NIST Chemistry WebBook, SRD 69, Tellurium tetrachloride. Formula, CAS Registry Number and thermochemical / spectroscopic data.
IUPAC Gold Book. Definitions for "lone pair", "VSEPR", "hybridization" and "formal charge".
Atkins, P. & de Paula, J., Physical Chemistry. VSEPR, molecular geometry and dipole moments.
Guidechem supplier & dictionary records. Commercial sourcing and CAS-linked property pages for Tellurium tetrachloride (CAS 10026-07-0).

Technical scope: Lewis structures, VSEPR and hybridization are model-based descriptions for chemical communication and structure prediction; actual molecular electronic structure is more accurately represented by molecular-orbital and quantum-chemical methods. Commercial grades vary substantially by supplier and intended use; CAS 10026-07-0 identifies the substance, not a universal purity specification.

Make Guideview Preferred Source on Google

Tellurium tetrachloride Lewis Structure