The shape around the central form in `ClF_(4)^(+)` is

Options

A. square planar
B. square pyramidal
C. octahedral
D. see - saw

Answer

To determine the shape of the central atom in \( \text{ClF}_4^+ \), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Determine the Valence Electrons
- Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons.
- The \( \text{ClF}_4^+ \) ion has a positive charge, which means it has lost one electron.
- Therefore, the total number of valence electrons for \( \text{ClF}_4^+ \) is \( 7 - 1 = 6 \) electrons.

**Hint:** Remember to account for the charge when calculating the total number of valence electrons.

### Step 2: Identify the Number of Bonding Pairs and Lone Pairs
- In \( \text{ClF}_4^+ \), chlorine is bonded to 4 fluorine atoms, which means there are 4 bonding pairs.
- Since we have 6 total electrons and 4 are used for bonding, we have \( 6 - 4 = 2 \) electrons left.
- These 2 remaining electrons will form 1 lone pair.

**Hint:** Count the bonding pairs first, then subtract from the total valence electrons to find lone pairs.

### Step 3: Determine the Steric Number
- The steric number is the sum of the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs.
- Here, we have 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, giving us a steric number of \( 4 + 1 = 5 \).

**Hint:** The steric number helps in determining the hybridization and geometry of the molecule.

### Step 4: Identify the Hybridization
- A steric number of 5 corresponds to \( \text{sp}^3\text{d} \) hybridization.

**Hint:** Remember that hybridization can be determined from the steric number.

### Step 5: Determine the Molecular Geometry
- With \( \text{sp}^3\text{d} \) hybridization and 1 lone pair, the molecular geometry is derived from the arrangement of the bonding pairs and lone pairs.
- The arrangement of 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair leads to a seesaw shape (derived from a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement).

**Hint:** Visualize the arrangement of atoms and lone pairs in three-dimensional space to determine the shape.

### Conclusion
The shape around the central atom in \( \text{ClF}_4^+ \) is **seesaw**.