What Is The Hybridization Of Xenon In Xenon Tetrafluoride?

Xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4) has a square planar molecular geometry, with four fluorine atoms arranged in a plane around the central xenon atom. To determine the hybridization of the xenon atom, we can use the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory.

According to VSEPR theory, the electron pairs (both bonding and non-bonding) surrounding an atom will arrange themselves in the way that minimizes their repulsion. In XeF4, there are two lone pairs and four bonding pairs around the xenon atom. This gives a total of six electron pairs around the xenon atom.

To minimize the repulsion between these electron pairs, they will adopt an octahedral arrangement. However, since there are only four atoms bonded to the central xenon atom, two of the electron pairs must be non-bonding lone pairs. This results in a square planar molecular geometry with sp3d2 hybridization for the xenon atom.