The number of lone pairs on central atom in `XeF_2, XeF_4 and XeF_6` are:

Options

A. (A) 1,2,3
B. (B) 3,2,1
C. (C) 2,2,1
D. (D) 1,3,2

Answer

To determine the number of lone pairs on the central atom (xenon) in the compounds XeF₂, XeF₄, and XeF₆, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Determine the Valence Electrons of Xenon
Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas with the electron configuration of [Kr] 5s² 5p⁶. This means it has a total of 8 valence electrons.

### Step 2: Analyze XeF₂
- In XeF₂, xenon forms bonds with 2 fluorine atoms.
- Each fluorine atom forms one bond with xenon, using 2 of xenon's valence electrons.
- Therefore, 8 (total valence electrons) - 2 (used in bonding) = 6 electrons remain.
- These 6 electrons are present as lone pairs.
- Since each lone pair consists of 2 electrons, 6 electrons correspond to 3 lone pairs.

**Lone pairs in XeF₂: 3**

### Step 3: Analyze XeF₄
- In XeF₄, xenon forms bonds with 4 fluorine atoms.
- Each fluorine atom forms one bond with xenon, using 4 of xenon's valence electrons.
- Therefore, 8 (total valence electrons) - 4 (used in bonding) = 4 electrons remain.
- These 4 electrons are present as lone pairs.
- Since each lone pair consists of 2 electrons, 4 electrons correspond to 2 lone pairs.

**Lone pairs in XeF₄: 2**

### Step 4: Analyze XeF₆
- In XeF₆, xenon forms bonds with 6 fluorine atoms.
- Each fluorine atom forms one bond with xenon, using 6 of xenon's valence electrons.
- Therefore, 8 (total valence electrons) - 6 (used in bonding) = 2 electrons remain.
- These 2 electrons are present as lone pairs.
- Since each lone pair consists of 2 electrons, 2 electrons correspond to 1 lone pair.

**Lone pairs in XeF₆: 1**

### Summary of Lone Pairs
- XeF₂: 3 lone pairs
- XeF₄: 2 lone pairs
- XeF₆: 1 lone pair

### Final Answer
The number of lone pairs on the central atom in XeF₂, XeF₄, and XeF₆ are 3, 2, and 1, respectively.

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