Which of the following species is isostructural with XeF ₂ and also has the same number of lone pairs on the central atom?

Step-by-step solution

The central atom in XeF ₂ is Xe. Number of valence electrons of Xe = 8 . Number of monovalent atoms (F) = 2 . Steric number = 1 2 (8 + 2) = 5 . The hybridization is sp^3d . With 2 bond pairs, the number of lone pairs = 5 - 2 = 3 . According to VSEPR theory, the three lone pairs occupy equatorial positions, resulting in a linear molecular geometry. Now evaluating the given options: BeCl ₂ : Steric number = 1 2 (2 + 2) = 2 ( sp ). It has a linear geometry but 0 lone pairs on Be. ICl ₂^+ : Steric number = 1 2 (7 - 1 +