Question:
Consider the compounds, BCl3 and CCl4. How will they behave with water? Justify.
Solution:
Being a Lewis acid, BCl3 readily undergoes hydrolysis. Boric acid is formed as a result.
$\mathrm{BCl}_{3}+3 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \longrightarrow 3 \mathrm{HCl}+\mathrm{B}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}$
CCl4 completely resists hydrolysis. Carbon does not have any vacant orbital. Hence, it cannot accept electrons from water to form an intermediate. When CCl4 and water are mixed, they form separate layers.
$\mathrm{CCl}_{4}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \longrightarrow$ No reaction