Question

In XeF₂, XeF₄ and XeF₆, the number of lone pairs on Xe is respectively 

(a) 2, 3, 1

(b) 1, 2, 3

(c) 4, 1, 2

(d) 3, 2, 1

Answer 1

Correct option is (d) 3, 2, 1

Xe has 8 electrons in the outermost shell; two, four and six of which are involved in bond formation in XeF₂, XeF₄ and XeF₆ respectively. Thus the number of bond pairs and lone pairs in the three will be 2, 4 and 6 (bond pairs) and 3, 2 and 1 (lone pairs) respectively.