Question

What are halides of carbon? Give a few examples.

Answer 1

Hint: The Carbon can combine with halogens to form both mixed and simple tetra halides. In the case of simple halides, carbon tetrachloride is one of the common examples and among the mixed halides, trichlorofluoromethane is a general example.

Complete step by step answer:
- As we know, carbon can combine with halogens to form both mixed and simple tetra halides. The carbon tetrahalides are usually prepared by the direct or thermal reaction of carbon with the appropriate halogen, also, specific syntheses are possible for each derivative. The general reaction for the formation of a halide of carbon can be written as follows
 \[C+2{{X}_{2}}\to C{{X}_{4}}\]
- The major examples of carbon tetrahalides involve$CC{{l}_{4}}$,$CB{{r}_{4}}$,$C{{I}_{4}}$ and $C{{F}_{4}}$. The Carbon tetrabromide can be formed by bromination of CH4 with HBr or $B{{r}_{2}}$ and $C{{I}_{4}}$ or Carbon tetraiodide can be obtained by the Lewis acid catalyzed halogen exchange reaction.
- Carbon tetrachloride ($CC{{l}_{4}}$) can react readily with alkali metals (Na and K) or other strong reducing agents. $CB{{r}_{4}}$ or Carbon tetrabromide is insoluble in water and other polar solvents, but soluble in benzene. Also, Carbon tetraiodide ($C{{I}_{4}}$) can decompose thermally.
- Along with this carbon tetrahalides, there also exists mixed halides which are synthesized by halide exchange. The gases which are used as refrigerant or as fire extinguisher such as $CBr{{F}_{3}}$, $CC{{l}_{3}}F$, $CBrCl{{F}_{2}}$ are some of the examples of mixed halides of carbon.

Note: It should be noted that the stability of the carbon tetrahalides will decrease with the increase in the size of halogen atoms. Thus, carbon tetrafluoride is the most stable halide among the different carbon tetrahalides.