CCl4
Carbon tetrachloride · Tetrachloromethane, Carbon tet, Benzinoform
Carbon tetrachloride is a stable, insulating molecular compound historically used as a solvent and chemical reagent.

About Carbon tetrachloride
Carbon tetrachloride is a simple molecular compound consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. It is recognized for its thermodynamic stability and acts as an insulating material with a wide electronic band gap, making it a distinct subject of study in molecular chemistry.
Historically, this compound has been widely utilized due to its effectiveness as a non-polar solvent. Its chemical properties have made it a foundational substance in various synthetic processes, although its use has evolved significantly due to environmental and safety considerations.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Carbon tetrachloride, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where Carbon tetrachloride is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carbon tetrachloride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is CCl4?
Carbon tetrachloride is a stable, insulating molecular compound historically used as a solvent and chemical reagent.
What is CCl4 used for?
What is the band gap of CCl4?
Is CCl4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is CCl4 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of CCl4 are known?
What elements does CCl4 contain?
Where does the data for CCl4 come from?
How It Compares
As a standalone molecular compound, carbon tetrachloride serves as a primary reference point for halogenated hydrocarbons. It represents a stable, insulating molecular architecture that defines the baseline for reactivity and physical behavior in simple carbon-chlorine systems.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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