Question

Using the VSEPR theory, what is the shape of carbon tetraiodide?

Answer 1

Tetrahedral, with `109.5^0` bond angles.

Electron pairs repel each other to get as far apart as possible. Lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, closing bond angles by about `2.5^0` per lone pair.

In `CI_4` the central carbon atom has four bonding pairs and no lone pairs. The shape which allows four electron pairs to get as far apart as possible is a tetrahedron.