Final answer:
The molecular shape of SCl₆, based on its Lewis Dot structure and molecular geometry principles, is octahedral. This is because sulfur, the central atom, is surrounded by six bonding pairs of electrons, all arranged equidistantly around sulfur due to their repulsive forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student was asked to determine the shape of the molecule SCl₆ using a Lewis Dot structure and a molecular geometry chart. The central atom S (sulfur) will be surrounded by six chlorine (Cl) atoms, since the prefix 'hexa-' in 'hexachloride' indicates six chloride atoms.
When we draw the Lewis structure, we will note that sulfur can have an expanded octet, meaning it can have more than eight electrons around it. Each of the six chlorine atoms will share one electron with sulfur to form single bonds, resulting in a molecule where the central atom has no lone pairs and is surrounded by six bonded electron pairs.
The molecular geometry of SCl₆, according to VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, is an octahedral arrangement because it has six regions of electron density, all of which are bonding pairs. An octahedral shape features all atoms at 90-degree angles relative to each other around the central atom.