Lewis structure of TeF4

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The Lewis structure of TeF₄ contains four single bonds, with tellurium in the center, and four fluorines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each fluorine atom, and one lone pair on the tellurium atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of TeF₄.

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Mark lone pairs
#4 Calculate formal charge and check stability (if octet is already completed on central atom)

Let’s one by one discuss each step in detail.

#1 Draw skeleton

In this step, first calculate the total number of valence electrons. And then, decide the central atom.

• Let’s calculate the total number of valence electrons

We know that… tellurium is a group 16 element and fluorine is a group 17 element. Hence, tellurium has six valence electrons and fluorine has seven valence electrons.

Now TeF₄ has one tellurium atom and four fluorine atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of tellurium atom + (valence electrons of fluorine atom × 4)

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 6 + 28 = 34

• Now decide the central atom

The atom with the least electronegative value is placed at the center. By looking at the periodic table, we get the electronegativity values for tellurium and fluorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of tellurium = 2.1
Electronegativity value of fluorine = 3.98

Obviously, tellurium is less electronegative than fluorine. Hence, assume that tellurium is the central atom.

So now, put tellurium in the center and fluorines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of TeF₄ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of SO (5 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since tellurium is surrounded by four fluorines, use eight electrons to show four chemical bonds as follows:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of CH₂ (4 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 34 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used eight valence electrons. Hence, twenty-six valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So twenty-six valence electrons = thirteen lone pairs.

Note that tellurium is a period 5 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And fluorine is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell.

Also, make sure that you start marking these lone pairs on outside atoms first. And then, on the central atom.

The outside atoms are fluorines, so each fluorine will get three lone pairs. And the central atom (tellurium) will get one lone pair.

So the Lewis structure of TeF₄ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (tellurium), and also on the outside atoms. Therefore, the octet rule is satisfied.

After completing the octet, one last thing we need to do is, calculate the formal charge and check the stability of the above structure.

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of AlF₃ (4 steps)

#4 Calculate formal charge and check stability

The following formula is used to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

Collect the data from the above structure and then, write it down below as follows:

• For tellurium atom

Valence electrons = 6
Nonbonding electrons = 2
Bonding electrons = 8

Formal charge = 6 – 2 – ½ (8) = 0

• For each fluorine atom

Valence electrons = 7
Nonbonding electrons = 6
Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

Mention the formal charges of atoms on the structure. So the Lewis structure of TeF₄ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (tellurium and fluorine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of TeF₄.

And each horizontal line drawn in the above structure represents a pair of bonding valence electrons.

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Related

• Lewis structure of SO
• Lewis structure of CH₂
• Lewis structure of AlF₃
• Lewis structure of Cl
• Lewis structure of S₂Cl₂

External links

• Lewis structure of TeF4 [with video and free study guide] – AceOrganicChem
• TeF4 Lewis Structure in 5 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Draw the Lewis structure for TeF4 – Homework.Study.com
• Draw the Lewis structure for TeF4 – Chegg
• How many Valence electrons are in TeF4? Draw the best Lewis structure – Quizlet
• How many valence electrons are in TeF4? Draw the best Lewis structure – Numerade
• What is the Lewis structure for TeF4? – OneClass
• TeF4 (Tellurium Tetrafluoride) Oxidation Number – ChemicalAid
• Tellurium tetrafluoride | TeF4 | CID 167258 – National Institutes of Health (.gov)
• Basic Geometry and molecular shape of TeF4? – Reddit
• How can I predict the bond angles for TeCl4 – Socratic