Chlorine has 7 valence electrons, while silicon has 4 valence electrons. To complete their octets, silicon needs 4 more electrons, and chlorine needs only 1 more electron.
Based on valence structure, chlorine will bond with silicon through a single covalent bond, as chlorine will donate one of its electrons to form a bond with silicon. In this scenario, a chloride ion (Cl-) would form and silicon would become positively charged.
Therefore, the resulting molecule is silicon chloride (SiCl), where the chlorine atom donates one electron to form a single bond with the silicon atom.
As for the shape of the molecule, silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4), formed by four chlorine atoms bonding with silicon, is a tetrahedral molecule. Silicon is the central atom, with the four chlorine atoms positioned around it, forming four covalent bonds.
Use what you know about valence structure to predict how chlorine will bond with Silicon. E.C. What shape do you predict this molecule will take?
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