Question

When chlorine is bubbled through an ethanol solution of [NEt4]I a bright yellow precipitate results. Elemental analysis of the product reveals that it contains 3.51% nitrogen. Use this information to elucidate the product of this reaction. Write a balanced equation for the reaction and use VSEPR theory to predict the structure of the solid. What is the oxidation state of iodine at the end of the reaction?

Answer 1

The Cl2 reacts with [NEt4]I to get the product [NEt4][ICl4]. THe molecular weight is 398.966.

THus the percentage of the nitrogen is 14/398.966 * 100 = 3.509%.

2Cl2 + [NEt4]I = [NEt4][ICl4]

The NEt4 is tetrahedral whereas the [ICl4](-) is having 7+7*4 +1 = 36 valence electrons.

There are 4 bond pairs , 2 lone pairs, the structure having sp3d2 hybridisation.

The structure is square planar with four Cl atoms and the Iodine in the plane and the lone pairs one in the top and the other in the bottom of the plane containing the iodine and the chlorine atoms.

The Iodine is having an oxidation state of +3.( each Cl of the four Cl has the formal charge of -1 and the overall charge of ICl4 being -1 outside, thus 4*(-1)+ 3 = -1 )