Q139P - Chemistry: Molecular Nature Of Matter And Change

Question

Xenon tetrafluoride reacts with antimony pentafluoride to form the following ionic complex: ${\mathbf{\left[}\mathbf{XeF}\mathbf{3}\mathbf{\right]}}^{\mathbf{+}}{\mathbf{\left[}\mathbf{SbF}\mathbf{6}\mathbf{\right]}}^{\mathbf{–}}$.

(a) Which of the following illustrates the molecular shapes of the reactants and product? 

(b) How, if at all, does the hybridization of xenon change in the reaction?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(a) The molecular structures of the reactants and products are shown by $\left(\text{C}\right)$.

(b) During the process of xenon hybridization, ${\text{Sp}}^{\text{3}}{\text{d}}^{\text{2}}$ becomes ${\text{Sp}}^{\text{3}}\text{d}$.

A concept:

The substances to the left of the arrow in a chemical equation are called reactants. A reactant is a substance that is present at the beginning of a chemical reaction. The substance(s) to the right of the arrow are called products.

(a) Which of the following depicts the reactants' and product's molecular shapes?

Xenon tetra fluoride reacts with antimony penta fluoride in the following way:

${\text{XeF}}_4{\text{+SbF}}_3\stackrel{}{\to }{\left[{\text{XeF}}_3\right]}^{\text{+}}{\left[{\text{SbF}}_6\right]}^{-}$

The molecular shape of ${\text{XeF}}_{\text{4}}$ has a square planer molecular structure.

The molecular shape of ${\text{SbF}}_{\text{5}}$ has a trigonal bipyramidal molecular shape.

The molecular shape of ${\left[{\text{XeF}}_{\text{3}}\right]}^{+}$ is $\text{T}$-shaped molecular structure.

The molecular shape shape of ${\left[{\text{SbF}}_{\text{6}}\right]}^{-}$ has an octahedral molecular structure.

As a result, $\left(\text{C}\right)$ shows the molecular structures of the reactants and products.

(b) Does the hybridization of xenon change in the reaction?

The hybridization of $\text{Xe}$ in ${\text{XeF}}_{\text{4}}$ is ${\text{Sp}}^3{\text{d}}^2$.

The hybridization of $\text{Xe}$ in ${\left[\text{XeF3}\right]}^{\text{+}}$ is ${\text{Sp}}^3\text{d}$.

As a result, Xenon hybridization switches from ${\text{Sp}}^3{\text{d}}^2$ to ${\text{Sp}}^3\text{d}$ in the process.