Question

Write the Lewis structure for XeO₂. What is the correct information about the electron-pair arrangement? Notation AXₙEᵧ where A is the central atom, N is the number of X atoms bonded to it, and Y is the number of lone pairs of electrons.

a) AX₂E₂
b) AX₃E
c) AX₂E₃
d) AX₃E₂

Answer 1

The correct electron-pair arrangement for XeO₂ is AX₂E₂, indicating two oxygen atoms bonded to xenon (each likely with a double bond) and two lone pairs of electrons remaining on the xenon atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the electron-pair arrangement for XeO₂, we must first write the Lewis structure. Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas that has empty valence shell d orbitals which allows it to accommodate more than eight electrons. The molecule XeO₂ will have two oxygen atoms bonded to xenon, with each oxygen atom likely forming a double bond to account for their six valence electrons. This would give us two bonding pairs and leave two lone pairs on the xenon atom (since Xe can have more than 8 electrons).

Therefore, the correct structure will be designated as AX₂E₂, which correlates to option a) AX₂E₂. This means there are two bonded pairs of oxygen atoms (X) and two lone pairs of electrons (E) around the central xenon atom (A). This Lewis structure highlights the unique capability of xenon to extend beyond the octet rule thanks to its access to d orbitals.