Xenon hexafluoride (XeF₆) Lewis structure
50 valence electrons, distorted octahedral
Build XeF₆ step by step in the Lewis Structure Generator
What is the Lewis structure of XeF₆?
Xenon hexafluoride, XeF₆, has 50 valence electrons. Xenon is the central atom, joined by six Xe−F single bonds. It carries one lone pair on the central Xe and three on each F. Every formal charge is zero. Xe is AX₆E₁: distorted octahedral.
Valence electrons in XeF₆
In one line: 8 + 6 × 7 = 50. Each atom brings the valence electrons its group gives it.
How to draw the XeF₆ Lewis structure
- Count the valence electrons. Valence electrons: Xe 8 and each F 7. 8 + 6 × 7 = 50.
- Choose the central atom. Xe goes in the middle: Xe is the least electronegative atom other than H, χ 2.60 against 3.98 for F.
- Join the atoms with single bonds. Six single bonds use 12 electrons, leaving 50 − 12 = 38.
- Complete the outer atoms. Each outer atom takes enough lone pairs to reach eight: 6 F × 6 = 36, leaving 38 − 36 = 2.
- Put the rest on the central atom. The 2 left go on the central atom as one lone pair on Xe, and Xe now has 14 electrons round it. That is more than eight, which an atom from period 3 on can hold.
- Make multiple bonds where needed. Every atom already has an octet or more, so no lone pair needs to become a bond.
Lone pairs and formal charges in XeF₆
| Atom | Number | Bonds | Lone pairs | Electrons round it | Formal charge, V − N − B/2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xe (central) | 1 | six single bonds | 1 | 14 | 8 − 2 − 6 = 0 |
| F | 6 | one single bond | 3 | 8 | 7 − 6 − 1 = 0 |
V is the atom’s valence electrons, N its nonbonding electrons and B its bonding electrons. The formal charges add up to 0, the molecule’s overall charge.
Shape and polarity of XeF₆
| Central atom | Xe |
|---|---|
| VSEPR class | AX₆E₁ |
| Electron geometry | pentagonal bipyramidal |
| Molecular geometry | distorted octahedral |
| Ideal bond angle | not given for seven domains |
| Polarity, an estimate | no estimate |
With seven electron domains round Xe, the shape is beyond the VSEPR model the estimate is built on, so none is given.
Xe has six σ bonds and one lone pair, seven electron domains in all, so its electron geometry is pentagonal bipyramidal. Counting only the bonded atoms, the molecular geometry is distorted octahedral.
Notes on the XeF₆ Lewis structure
- Xe has seven electron domains, AX₆E₁: distorted octahedral. The VSEPR viewer stops at six, so it has no 3D model of this shape.
Work with XeF₆
- Lewis Structure Generator: XeF₆ built step by step, with every formal charge worked out
- VSEPR Molecular Geometry: every VSEPR shape in 3D, with its bond angles
- All 78 Lewis structures: valence electrons, resonance, shape and polarity in one table