Tetrahalomethanes are fully halogenated methane derivatives of general formula CF_kCl_lBr_mI_nAt_p, where:

k+l+m+n+p=4

Tetrahalomethanes are on the border of inorganic and organic chemistry, thus they can be assigned both inorganic and organic names by IUPAC: tetrafluoromethane - carbon tetrafluoride, tetraiodomethane - carbon tetraiodide, dichlorodifluoromethane - carbon dichloride difluoride.

Each halogen (F, Cl, Br, I, At) forms a corresponding halomethane, but their stability decreases in order CF₄ > CCl₄ > CBr₄ > CI₄ from exceptionally stable gaseous tetrafluoromethane with bond energy 515 kJ·mol⁻¹ to solid tetraiodomethane, depending on bond energy.

Many mixed halomethanes are also known, such as CBrClF₂.

Uses

Fluorine, chlorine, and sometimes bromine-substituted halomethanes were used as refrigerants, commonly known as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).

v t e Halomethanes
Unsubstituted	CH₄
Monosubstituted	CH₃F CH₃Cl CH₃Br CH₃I CH₃At
Disubstituted	CH₂F₂ CH₂ClF CH₂BrF CH₂FI CH₂Cl₂ CH₂BrCl CH₂ClI CH₂Br₂ CH₂BrI CH₂I₂
Trisubstituted	CHF₃ CHClF₂ CHBrF₂ CHF₂I CHCl₂F CHBrClF CHClFI CHBr₂F CHBrFI CHFI₂ CHCl₃ CHBrCl₂ CHCl₂I CHBr₂Cl CHBrClI CHClI₂ CHBr₃ CHBr₂I CHBrI₂ CHI₃
Tetrasubstituted	CF₄ CClF₃ CBrF₃ CF₃I CCl₂F₂ CBrClF₂ CClF₂I CBr₂F₂ CBrF₂I CF₂I₂ CCl₃F CBrCl₂F CCl₂FI CBr₂ClF C*BrClFI CClFI₂ CBr₃F CBr₂FI CBrFI₂ CFI₃ CCl₄ CBrCl₃ CCl₃I CBr₂Cl₂ CBrCl₂I CCl₂I₂ CBr₃Cl CBr₂ClI CBrClI₂ CClI₃ CBr₄ CBr₃I CBr₂I₂ CBrI₃ CI₄
* Chiral compound.

Uses

See also