[KAJLogic]

I am curious about the state of CCl₄ considering that all of carbon's valence is used. So, to make it easy like a math formula I will show you my steps of logic and you can point out if/where my flaw is.

1. carbon only has 4 electrons that can be used (even Chlorine isn't strong enough to grab it's S's)

2. The bond between CCl₄: each unpaired chlorine electron is attracting one of carbons electrons using up all of carbons available electrons

3. 2 of carbons electrons are in the S volume.

4. Now I have some options of what could be happening:
A) it is hybridizing S & P orbitals (specifically sp²) to account for the needed volume of chlorine's electrons
B) one of carbons electrons is in the S orbital and bonding with Chlorine's P orbital electron. This answer seems like it would be a mathematical mess due to the different energy levels, and relative volumes
C) the molecule is so polar only two of the electrons ever are in carbons S orbital at one time. Again this option seems to be an odd situation of perfect synchronization (too good to be true)

5. The only logical option seems to be that it is sp² hybridized, but my answer sheet says this is wrong..

6. clear one other thing up for me please. Hybrid orbitals don't actually effect usable volume until you get to sp³d cause before that it would always be a maximum of eight electrons?

[ramboacid]

I'm unfamiliar with what you are trying to model/hypothesize/answer with your steps, though I have one question: why do you assume the carbon hybridization is sp²? Isn't it sp³?

Also: The shape CCl₄ is tetrahedral - as all the substituents (the 4 Cl atoms) are indentical, the molecule has no net dipole moment and should be nonpolar.

[KAJLogic]

Actually yes that makes much more sense then. This takes away the need to have one of the bonds occur in the S orbital (with sp³). Yeah what your saying is all of the chlorine atoms are pulling at the same angles so none of them can actually overpower the columbic force correct?