Final answer:
The central boron atom in BF4- is sp3 hybridized, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry with four single bonds to fluorine atoms and no lone pairs of electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hybridization of the central atom in BF4- can be predicted using the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory and by counting the number of electron groups around the central boron atom. Boron in BF4- has four single bonds with fluorine atoms and no lone pairs of electrons. This results in four electron groups around the central boron atom, which corresponds to sp3 hybridization.
By following the steps provided for determining the electron dot diagram, we count a total of 32 electrons, which are accordingly positioned around the boron atom. According to the VSEPR theory, the sp3 hybridized central atom will exhibit a tetrahedral geometry. With this in mind, we can conclude that the central boron atom in BF4- is sp3 hybridized, and each fluorine atom completes an octet through these single bonds, leading to a stable tetrahedral geometry.