Where Does Tetrachloride Come from?

Carbon tetrachloride is a manufactured chemical and does not occur naturally in the environment. It is produced by chlorination of a variety of low molecular weight hydrocarbons such as carbon disulfide, methane, ethane, propane, or ethylene dichloride and also by thermal chlorination of methyl chloride.

Where is tetrachloride found?

Carbon tetrachloride may be found in both ambient outdoor and indoor air. The primary effects of carbon tetrachloride in humans are on the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system (CNS).

What creates CCl4?

In the carbon tetrachloride molecule, four chlorine atoms are positioned symmetrically as corners in a tetrahedral configuration joined to a central carbon atom by single covalent bonds. Because of this symmetric geometry, CCl₄ is non-polar. Methane gas has the same structure, making carbon tetrachloride a halomethane.