Which of the following tetrahalides does not exist?

Which of the following tetrahalides does not exist?
  1. CCl4
  2. SiCl4
  3. PbCl4
  4. PbI4

Solution

Group-14 elements can form halides of formula MX2 and MX4 (where X = F, Cl, Br, I). Except carbon, all other members react directly with halogen under suitable condition to make halides. Most of the MX4 are covalent in nature. The central metal atom in these halides undergoes sp3 hybridisation and the molecule is tetrahedral in shape.  PbI4 does not exist because PbI bond initially formed during the reaction does not release enough energy to unpair 6s2 electrons and excite one of them to higher orbital to have four unpaired electrons around lead atom.

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2022 (04 Jul Shift 1)

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