Question

Which of The Following Compound Has Planar Structure?

• A. ${\mathrm{XeO}}_4$
• B. ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$
• C. ${\mathrm{XeO}}_2{\mathrm{F}}_2$
• D. ${\mathrm{XeOF}}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is B

${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$

Explanation for the correct option:

(B) ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$

• Xenon tetrafluoride – ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$ compound has a planar structure.
• In ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$ the ‘Xe’ atom is ${\mathrm{sp}}^3{\mathrm{d}}^2$ hybridised, which contains two lone pair orbitals and four bond pair orbitals.
• Therefore the shape of the ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$ molecule is square planar. with one lone pair orbital above and the other below the plane.
• The structure of Xenon tetrafluoride is shown below:

Explanation for incorrect options:

(A) ${\mathrm{XeO}}_4$ :

• It has a tetrahedral structure with ${\mathrm{sp}}^3$ hybridization.
• The structure of ${\mathrm{XeO}}_4$ is given below:

(C) ${\mathrm{XeO}}_2{\mathrm{F}}_2$:

• It has a see-saw structure or trigonal bipyramidal with hybridization as ${\mathrm{sp}}^3{\mathrm{d}}^2$.
• The structure of ${\mathrm{XeO}}_2{\mathrm{F}}_2$ is given below:

(D) ${\mathrm{XeOF}}_2$:

It has a T-shape structure with ${\mathrm{sp}}^3\mathrm{d}$ hybridization.

The structure of ${\mathrm{XeOF}}_2$ is given below:

Hence, the correct option is B i.e. ${\mathrm{XeF}}_4$.