Final answer:
The SF6 compound is named sulfur hexafluoride. It features six covalent bonds between one sulfur and six fluorine atoms, forming a stable octahedral molecule due to sp³ d² hybridization. Its inert nature allows for industrial usage, including as an insulating gas and a tracer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound with the chemical formula SF6 is named sulfur hexafluoride. This covalent compound comprises one sulfur atom (S) and six fluorine (F) atoms. Each fluorine atom has seven valence electrons and the central sulfur atom contributes six valence electrons. This leads to the formation of six covalent bonds between sulfur and fluorine, and the Lewis structure of SF6 shows six bonding pairs with no lone pairs on the central atom. The sulfur atom exhibits sp³ d² hybridization, with its orbitals directed towards the corners of an octahedron, which gives SF6 an octahedral geometry.
SF6 is an inert gas used in high-voltage electrical insulation, as a model compound for certain chemical agents, and in various industrial applications due to its non-toxicity and chemical inertness. SF6's physical properties as a gas, such as its molecular mass and vapor phase characteristics, make it suitable for use as an aerial tracer for vent systems and studies of atmospheric transport.