Question

answer the questions in the table below about the shape of the sulfur tetrafluoride (sf₄) molecule.
how many electron groups are around the central sulfur atom?
note: one \electron group\ means one lone pair, one single bond, one double bond, or one triple bond.
what phrase best describes the arrangement of these electron groups around the central sulfur atom? (you may need to use the scrollbar to see all the choices.)

Explanation:

Step1: Determine valence - electrons of sulfur

Sulfur has 6 valence electrons. In $SF_4$, sulfur forms 4 single bonds with fluorine atoms. The number of bonding pairs is 4. Sulfur also has 1 lone - pair of electrons. The total number of electron groups is the sum of bonding pairs and lone pairs.

Step2: Calculate electron - group number

Number of bonding pairs = 4, number of lone pairs = 1. Electron groups = 4 + 1=5.

Step3: Determine electron - group arrangement

According to the VSEPR (Valence - Shell Electron - Pair Repulsion) theory, when there are 5 electron groups around a central atom, the electron - group arrangement is trigonal bipyramidal.

Answer:

How many electron groups are around the central sulfur atom? 5
What phrase best describes the arrangement of these electron groups around the central sulfur atom? Trigonal bipyramidal