NEET2026ChemistryChapterActual
Which of the following statements regarding the structures and hybridization of Xenon compounds is incorrect?
Options
- AXeF ₄ features sp ^3 d ^2 hybridization and has a square planar geometry with two lone pairs on the central at
- BXeOF ₄ features sp ^3 d ^2 hybridization and has a square pyramidal geometry with one lone pair on the central
- CXeO ₃ features sp ^2 hybridization and has a trigonal planar geometry with zero lone pairs on the central atom
- DXeF ₂ features sp ^3 d hybridization and has a linear geometry with three lone pairs on the central atom.
Correct answer
C. XeO ₃ features sp ^2 hybridization and has a trigonal planar geometry with zero lone pairs on the central atom
Step-by-step solution
For XeF ₄ , the central Xe atom has 8 valence electrons. It forms 4 sigma bonds with 4 fluorine atoms and has 2 lone pairs. The steric number is 4 + 2 = 6 , corresponding to sp ^3 d ^2 hybridization and a square planar geometry. For XeOF ₄ , Xe forms 4 sigma bonds with fluorine, 1 sigma bond and 1 pi bond with oxygen, and has 1 lone pair. The steric number is 5 + 1 = 6 , corresponding to sp ^3 d ^2 hybridization and a square pyramidal geometry. For XeO ₃ , Xe forms 3 sigma bonds and 3 pi bonds with 3 oxygen atoms.