Silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4SiCl_4SiCl4) is a volatile liquid at room temperature and pressure, with a boiling point of only 57.6 ∘C57.6\ ^\circ\text{C}57.6 ∘C.
Explain, in terms of structure and bonding, why silicon tetrachloride has a low boiling point.
59 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 2.5 Types of substance, covering 2.5.1 Classifying substances by structure and bonding, 2.5.2 Properties of ionic and simple molecular substances, 2.5.3 Giant covalent structures: diamond and graphite, 2.5.4 Fullerenes, graphene and simple polymers, 2.5.5 Properties of metals and non-metals, and 2.5.6 Limitations of bonding models and representations. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.