Silicon tetrachloride readily undergoes hydrolysis but carbon tetrachloride does not undergo hydrdolysis undergo normal conditions. Explain.

Silicon tetrachloride readily undergoes hydrolysis but carbon tetrachl

1.	Silicon tetrachloride readily undergoes hydrolysis but carbon tetrachloride does not undergo hydrdolysis undergo normal conditions. Explain.
Answer» Solution :Since carbon (of second PERIOD) has no vacant d-orbital, its maximum covalency is 4, on the other hand, silicon (of third period) has vacant d-orbitals and its maximum covalency is 6. as Si-atom can extend its covalency to 6, `SiCl_(6)` UNDERGOES ready hyrolysis to YIELD `SiO_(2)`. A lone pair fo electrons from the O- atom of `H_(2)overset(..)(O)` is donated to the empty di-orbitals of Si, forming a co-ordinate intermediate which has a trigonal bipyramidal structural. the intermediate `[SiCl_(4)(H_(2)O)]` loses a molecule of HCl to form `SiCl_(3)(OH)`. in the same way, the other 3Cl-atoms are replaced by 3-OH groups to form ortho-silicic acid `[Si(OH)_(4)]` which finally loses 2 molecules of water to give `SiO_(2)`. C-atom having no d-orbitals in its valence in its valence shell cannot extend its covalency beyond 4 and so it does not undergo hydrolysis undre normal conditions.