Question

what is the hybridization of the central atom in the xenon tetrafluoride (xef₄) molecule?

Explanation:

Step1: Determine valence - electron number of Xe

Xe is in Group 18, has 8 valence electrons.

Step2: Determine number of bonding pairs and lone pairs

In $XeF_4$, Xe forms 4 bonds with F atoms and has 2 lone - pairs. The total number of electron - pair groups around Xe is $4 + 2=6$.

Step3: Determine hybridization

The number of hybrid orbitals is equal to the number of electron - pair groups around the central atom. When there are 6 electron - pair groups, the hybridization is $sp^3d^2$.

Answer:

$sp^3d^2$