Question

What type of hybridisation does explain the trigonal bipyramidal shape of SF₄?

Which type of hybridisation does explain the trigonal bipyramidal shape of SF₄?

Answer 1

1. The sulphur atom in SF₄ is (sp³d) hybridised.
2. This hybridisation involves one d orbital, one s orbital, and three p orbitals.
3. The (sp³d) hybridisation leads to a trigonal bipyramidal electron geometry.
4. In SF₄, one equatorial position is occupied by a lone pair, causing a see-saw molecular shape.
5. The trigonal bipyramidal arrangement minimises repulsion between bonding and lone pairs, explaining SF₄'s shape.