The bond angle in XeF4 molecule is

Options

A. `180^@`
B. `120^@`
C. `100^@`
D. `90^@`

Answer

To determine the bond angle in the XeF4 molecule, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Central Atom and Its Valence Electrons
- The central atom in the XeF4 molecule is xenon (Xe), which is in group 18 of the periodic table.
- Xenon has 8 valence electrons.

**Hint:** Remember that noble gases have a complete octet, which means they typically have 8 valence electrons.

### Step 2: Determine the Number of Bonded and Lone Pairs
- In XeF4, xenon is bonded to four fluorine (F) atoms.
- Each bond to a fluorine atom uses one of the valence electrons from xenon.
- Therefore, the number of bonded pairs (bonding electrons) is 4.
- The remaining valence electrons (8 total - 4 used for bonding = 4) will be lone pairs.

**Hint:** Count the number of fluorine atoms bonded to the central atom to find the number of bonded pairs.

### Step 3: Calculate the Total Number of Electron Pairs
- The total number of electron pairs around the xenon atom is the sum of bonded pairs and lone pairs.
- Total electron pairs = Number of bonded pairs + Number of lone pairs = 4 + 2 = 6.

**Hint:** Remember that each bond counts as one pair of electrons, and lone pairs also count as pairs.

### Step 4: Determine the Hybridization
- With 6 electron pairs, the hybridization of xenon in XeF4 is sp³d².
- This hybridization corresponds to an octahedral arrangement of electron pairs.

**Hint:** Use the total number of electron pairs to identify the hybridization type.

### Step 5: Identify the Molecular Geometry
- The molecular geometry for a molecule with 4 bonded pairs and 2 lone pairs (in the case of sp³d² hybridization) is square pyramidal.
- The lone pairs occupy positions that minimize their repulsion, which affects the geometry.

**Hint:** Visualize the arrangement of atoms and lone pairs to understand the molecular shape.

### Step 6: Determine the Bond Angle
- In a square pyramidal geometry, the bond angles between the bonded atoms (the fluorine atoms in this case) are 90 degrees.
- Therefore, the bond angle in the XeF4 molecule is 90 degrees.

**Hint:** Recall that in geometries like square pyramidal, the bond angles can be different from the typical angles seen in simpler geometries.

### Final Answer:
The bond angle in XeF4 is **90 degrees**.

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