Hybridization Of Xeo3

The hybridization of XeO3 can be determined by using the concept of hybrid orbitals. In XeO3, xenon is the central atom and it is surrounded by three oxygen atoms. To determine the hybridization of Xe in XeO3, we need to first calculate the total number of valence electrons in the molecule. Xenon has eight valence electrons, while each oxygen atom contributes six valence electrons, giving us a total of 26 valence electrons.

Next, we need to arrange these electrons in such a way that the octet rule is satisfied for all atoms in the molecule. One possible arrangement is:

O

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O -- Xe -- O

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O

In this structure, each oxygen atom is bonded to the central xenon atom by a single bond, and each oxygen atom has two lone pairs of electrons. Xenon has no lone pairs and is connected to each oxygen atom by a single bond.

To determine the hybridization of Xe, we first count the number of sigma bonds formed by the central atom. In XeO3, Xenon forms three sigma bonds with the three oxygen atoms. Since each sigma bond requires one hybrid orbital, we conclude that Xenon undergoes sp2 hybridization.

Therefore, the hybridization of Xenon in XeO3 is sp2.