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Is CF4 polar or nonpolar?
CF4 is nonpolar because four identical C–F bond dipoles cancel in a symmetric tetrahedron.
Carbon Tetrafluoride · tetrahedral
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 CF4 is nonpolar
Each C–F bond is strongly polar, yet all four fluorines occupy equivalent directions around carbon. The bond dipoles balance in three dimensions, leaving no permanent molecular dipole.
What to notice
CF4 illustrates why a molecule with very polar bonds can still be nonpolar. Symmetry concerns the whole three-dimensional arrangement.
Common questions about CF4
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of CF4 show?
Carbon forms four C–F single bonds and has no lone pairs. Each fluorine has three lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of CF4?
CF4 has a tetrahedral molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 109.5°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of CF4?
CF4 has an approximate molar mass of 88.00 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.