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Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
Chapter 9, Problem 51a,b

Indicate the hybridization of the central atom in (a) H2S (b) SeF6

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Identify the central atom in the molecule SeF6, which is Selenium (Se).
Count the number of atoms directly bonded to Selenium. In SeF6, Selenium is bonded to six Fluorine (F) atoms.
Determine the number of lone pairs on the central atom. Selenium in SeF6 has no lone pairs as it forms six bonds with Fluorine atoms.
Add the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs to find the steric number. For SeF6, the steric number is 6 (six bonding pairs + zero lone pairs).
Use the steric number to determine the hybridization. A steric number of 6 corresponds to sp3d2 hybridization.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hybridization

Hybridization is a concept in chemistry that describes the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals. These hybrid orbitals are used to explain the geometry of molecular bonding. The type of hybridization depends on the number of electron pairs around the central atom, which can include both bonding and lone pairs.
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Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory

VSEPR theory is used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs in the valence shell of the central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs will arrange themselves as far apart as possible to minimize repulsion, which helps determine the molecular shape and the hybridization of the central atom.
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Molecular Geometry of SeF6

Selenium hexafluoride (SeF6) has a central selenium atom surrounded by six fluorine atoms. The molecular geometry is octahedral, which indicates that the central atom is hybridized to accommodate six bonding pairs of electrons. This leads to the conclusion that the hybridization of selenium in SeF6 is sp3d2, corresponding to the six equivalent hybrid orbitals formed.
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