Silicon tetrachloride reacts violently with water to form silicic acid, whereas Carbon tetrachloride does not react. What structural feature of Silicon allows this mechanism?
Q1. Silicon tetrachloride reacts violently with water to form silicic acid, whereas Carbon tetrachloride does not react. What structural feature of Silicon allows this mechanism?
Answer: Coordination of water to vacant d-orbitals
Explanation: Silicon has vacant 3d orbitals that allow water to coordinate as a nucleophile; Carbon lacks d-orbitals, making CCl4 resistant to hydrolysis.