Xenon tetrafluoride, XeF4 is: — p Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Determine the geometry of XeF4. Xenon has 8 valence electrons, forming 4 Xe-F bonds with 2 lone pairs on Xenon. This steric number of 6 (4 bond pairs + 2 lone pairs) corresponds to a square planar shape. Step 2: Evaluate its reactivity. XeF4 acts as a fluoride ion (F-) donor when reacted with strong Lewis acids (such as PF5, SbF5, or AsF5) to form adduct complexes like [XeF3]+[PF6]-. Step 3: Combining these facts, XeF4 is square planar and acts as a fluoride donor with PF5, which corresponds to option (b).