Lewis structure of XeF2

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The Lewis structure of XeF₂ contains two single bonds, with xenon in the center, and two fluorines on either side. There are three lone pairs on both the xenon atom and fluorine atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of XeF₂:

#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… xenon is a group 18 element and fluorine is a group 17 element. Hence, xenon has eight valence electrons and fluorine has seven valence electrons.

Now XeF₂ has one xenon atom and two fluorine atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of xenon atom + (valence electrons of fluorine atom × 2)

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 8 + 14 = 22

• 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 xenon and fluorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of xenon = 2.6
Electronegativity value of fluorine = 3.98

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

So now, put xenon in the center and fluorines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of XeF₂ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of N₂O (5 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

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

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of I₃^– (4 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 22 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used four valence electrons. Hence, eighteen valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So eighteen valence electrons = nine lone pairs.

Note that xenon 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 (xenon) will also get three lone pairs.

So the Lewis structure of XeF₂ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (xenon), 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 BCl₃ (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 xenon atom

Valence electrons = 8
Nonbonding electrons = 6
Bonding electrons = 4

Formal charge = 8 – 6 – ½ (4) = 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 XeF₂ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (xenon and fluorine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of XeF₂.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of N₂O
• Lewis structure of I₃^–
• Lewis structure of BCl₃
• Lewis structure of CN^–
• Lewis structure of CF₄

External links

• Drawing the Lewis Structure for XeF2 – The University of Maryland
• XeF2 Lewis Structure in 5 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Xef2 Lewis Structure, Polarity, Hybridization and shape – Geometry of Molecules
• XeF2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Bond angle, Shape – Topblogtenz
• XeF2 Lewis Structure, Geometry – Kemicalinfo
• XeF2 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
• Chemical Bonding: XeF2 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• XeF2 Lewis Structure & Molecular geometry – Science Coverage
• Draw the Lewis structure for XeF2 and determine its electron and molecular geometries – Homework.Study.com
• Lewis Dot of Xenon Difluoride XeF2 – Kent’s Chemistry
• Lewis Structure of XeF2 – Reddit
• XeF2 Lewis Structure (Xenon Difluoride) – Pinterest
• Draw The Lewis Structure For XeF2 – Chegg
• Lewis structure of XeF2 that comes closer to reality? – Chemistry Stack Exchange
• Lewis Structure of XeF2 – Laurence Lavelle
• What is the molecular geometry of XeF2 – AceOrganicChem
• Write the Lewis structure for XeF2 – Bartleby
• Does the VSEPR theory predict that XeF2 is linear? – Socratic
• In the Lewis structure of XeF2, how many lone pairs are around the central atom? – Brainly
• What is the molecular shape of XeF2? – Quora