Xenon tetrafluoride ( XeF₄ ) is a square planar molecule. The hybridization of the central xenon atom and the total number of valence electrons around it in this molecule are, respectively:

Step-by-step solution

The central atom Xenon (Xe) has 8 valence electrons. In XeF₄ , Xe forms 4 sigma bonds with 4 Fluorine atoms, which uses 4 of its valence electrons. The remaining 4 valence electrons form 2 lone pairs on the Xe atom. Steric number = Number of sigma bonds + Number of lone pairs = 4 + 2 = 6 . A steric number of 6 corresponds to sp³d² hybridization. The total number of valence electrons around the central Xe atom in XeF₄ is the sum of the electrons in the 4 sigma bonds and the 2 lone pairs. Total valence electrons arou