a. Predict the electron-domain geometry around the central Xe atom in XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of electron-domain geometry. Electron-domain geometry considers all regions of electron density (bonds and lone pairs) around the central atom.
2. Step 2: Determine the number of valence electrons for Xenon (Xe) and Fluorine (F). Xenon has 8 valence electrons, and each Fluorine has 7 valence electrons.
3. Step 3: Calculate the total number of valence electrons for each molecule. For XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6, add the valence electrons of Xe and the appropriate number of F atoms.
4. Step 4: Use the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory to predict the electron-domain geometry. Consider the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs around the central Xe atom.
5. Step 5: For XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6, identify the electron-domain geometry based on the number of electron domains: linear for 2 domains, square planar for 4 domains, and octahedral for 6 domains.

Key Concepts

VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is a model used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs surrounding a central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs, whether bonding or non-bonding, will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, leading to specific molecular shapes.

Electron-Domain Geometry

Electron-domain geometry refers to the spatial arrangement of all electron domains (bonding and lone pairs) around a central atom. This geometry helps in determining the overall shape of the molecule, which can differ from the molecular geometry if there are lone pairs present that affect the arrangement of bonded atoms.

Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate the bonding pairs of electrons. In the case of xenon compounds like XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6, understanding the hybridization of the central xenon atom is crucial for predicting its electron-domain geometry and the resulting molecular shape.