Question

Match List I with List II:

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A-I, B-IV, C-III, D-II
• B. A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I
• C. A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III
• D. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III

Hint:

Remember that the hybridization and geometry of a molecule are largely determined by the number of bonding and lone pairs on the central atom. For compounds with xenon, the hybridization can often be sp\textsuperscript{3}, sp\textsuperscript{3d}, or sp\textsuperscript{3d\textsuperscript{2}} depending on the number of bonds and lone pairs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To determine the correct geometry, we need to determine the number of electron pairs (bonding and lone pairs) around the central Xenon atom for each molecule.

A. XeO₃

• Xe has 8 valence electrons. Each O contributes 2 electrons for bonding. So Xe will have 3 double bonds with the 3 O atoms, leaving one lone pair. 3 bond pairs + 1 lone pair = 4 electron pairs around Xe.

• This gives sp³ hybridization. Because of the presence of a lone pair, the geometry is pyramidal.

B. XeF₂

• Xe has 8 valence electrons. Each F contributes 1 electron for bonding. So Xe will have 2 single bonds with the 2 F atoms, leaving three lone pairs. 2 bond pairs + 3 lone pairs = 5 electron pairs around Xe.

• This gives sp³d hybridization. The three lone pairs are arranged equatorially to minimize repulsion, resulting in a linear geometry.

C. XeOF₄

• Xe has 8 valence electrons. Each F contributes 1 electron for bonding, O contributes 2 electron bonding. So Xe will have 4 single bonds with the 4 F atoms, and 1 double bond with the 1 O atom, leaving one lone pair. 5 bond pairs + 1 lone pair = 6 electron pairs around Xe.

• This gives sp³d² hybridization. With one lone pair it makes Square pyramidal.

D. XeF₆

• Xe has 8 valence electrons. Each F contributes 1 electron for bonding. So Xe will have 6 single bonds with the 6 F atoms, leaving one lone pair. 6 bond pairs + 1 lone pair = 7 electron pairs around Xe.

• Due to steric congestion, the molecule does not exhibit octahedral geometry. Based on the VSEPR model, The molecule is predicted to have a distorted octahedral geometry. The central Xe atom has seven electron pairs around it (6 bonds and 1 lone pair), which cause its geometry to be distorted octahedral.

Matching the compounds to their geometries:

A (XeO₃) - II (sp³ pyramidal)

B (XeF₂) - I (sp³d linear)

C (XeOF₄) - IV (sp³d² square pyramidal)

D (XeF₆) - III (sp³d distorted octahedral)

The correct answer is (4) A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III