MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 67 / 175
Is CClF3 polar or nonpolar?
CClF3 is polar because one C–Cl direction differs from the three C–F directions around carbon.
Chlorotrifluoromethane · tetrahedral at C
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDPubChem 3D coordinates. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why CClF3 is polar
All four substituents are halogens, but chlorine and fluorine are not interchangeable in their bond dipoles. The tetrahedral vector sum that would cancel in CF4 is broken by the single chlorine substituent.
What to notice
A tetrahedral shape does not itself ensure nonpolarity. CClF3 and CF4 have the same bond arrangement but different substituents.
Common questions about CClF3
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of CClF3 show?
Carbon makes three C–F single bonds and one C–Cl single bond. Each halogen carries three lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of CClF3?
CClF3 has a tetrahedral at C molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 111.2° and 107.7°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of CClF3?
CClF3 has an approximate molar mass of 104.45 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.