Question

What type of hybridization does the central atom in ${\mathrm{SF}}_4$ have?

Answer 1

Hybridisation:

• "Hybridisation is mixing atomic orbitals to generate new hybrid orbitals."
• It is a hypothetical concept.

Hybridisation in ${\mathrm{SF}}_4$:

• In ${\mathrm{SF}}_4$, the central atom is Sulphur ($\mathrm{S}$). It has $6$ valence electrons.
• There are $4$ Fluorine ($\mathrm{F}$) atoms having 7 valence electrons each. Thus, the total number of valence electrons is $34$.
• Four valence electrons of Sulphur form four single bonds with Fluorine atoms.
• One pair of electrons or a lone pair is present on the Sulphur atom. Thus, the total electron density regions of Sulphur atom are $5$.
• The five atomic orbitals of Sulphur hybridise to form five ${\mathrm{sp}}^3\mathrm{d}$ hybrid orbitals.
• Thus, the hybridisation of the central atom in ${\mathrm{SF}}_4$ is ${\mathrm{sp}}^3\mathrm{d}$.