Answer to Question #133824 in Inorganic Chemistry for sdma rupasinghe

Question

why F-Xe-F bond angles in XeF4 are equal?

Answer 1

Because, in XeF₄ The central atom is Xe

Thus according to the VSEPR Theory, Xe contributes 8e-

While the 4 x F contribute 4e-

Total VSE = 12

and therefore total VSEP = 6

The molecular geometry is therefore square planer( based on octahedral) or square pyramidal,

having the fluorine atoms directed towards the four corners of the square.

F-Xe bond angles are therefore 90^o or 180^o and the lone pairs are on the opposite sides of the molecule (at 180^o from each other) to minimize lone-pair: lone-pair interactions