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  • Electron Configuration of CCl₄: A Step-by-Step Guide
    You're asking about the electron configuration of the molecule CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride), not a single atom. Here's how to approach it:

    1. Focus on Bonding:

    * CCl4 is a covalent molecule. The carbon atom forms four single bonds with four chlorine atoms.

    * To determine the electron configuration, we need to consider the sharing of electrons in these bonds.

    2. Lewis Structure:

    * Carbon (C): Has 4 valence electrons (2s22p2). It needs to share 4 electrons to complete its octet.

    * Chlorine (Cl): Has 7 valence electrons (3s23p5). Each chlorine needs to share 1 electron to complete its octet.

    The Lewis structure for CCl4 shows carbon at the center with four chlorine atoms surrounding it, each connected by a single bond.

    3. Simplified Electron Configuration:

    * Since we're dealing with a molecule, we can simply say that each atom in CCl4 has a filled outer shell after bonding.

    * Carbon effectively has 8 valence electrons (due to sharing), fulfilling the octet rule.

    * Each chlorine also has 8 valence electrons (due to sharing), fulfilling the octet rule.

    Important Note: You won't see a specific "electron configuration" like you would for an atom. In molecules, the electrons are delocalized in bonding orbitals.

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