CSIR UGC NET Dec15 Q.8

The structures of XeF₂ and XeO₂F₂ respectively are 
A. bent, tetrahedral 
B. linear, square planar 
C. linear, see-saw 
D. bent, see-saw 

XeF₂                              XeO₂F₂

Ans: C. linear, see-saw 

The three 5p electrons are promoted to higher energy 5d sub-level. The 5s three 5p and one 5d orbitals hybridize to give five sp3d hybrid orbitals. The four singly occupied orbitals are used for bond formation to two fluorine and two oxygen atoms. The fifth hybrid orbital contains the lone pair. The other 5d electrons of xenon which do not take part in the hybridization scheme are involved in π-bond formation to two oxygen atoms