Question:

Trigonal bipyramidal geometry is shown by:

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Count the sigma bonds and lone pairs on xenon in each species. A trigonal bipyramidal geometry (with no lone pair distorting the shape) needs five bond pairs and zero lone pairs on the central atom.
Updated On: Oct 31, 2026
  • \(\mathrm{XeOF_2}\)
  • \(\mathrm{XeO_3F_2}\)
  • \(\mathrm{FXeOSO_2F}\)
  • \([\mathrm{XeF_8}]^{2-}\)
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Xenon has 8 valence electrons. Count the regions of electron density (sigma bonds + lone pairs) around Xe in each option.
(1) \(\mathrm{XeOF_2}\): Xe=O uses 2 electrons and two Xe-F bonds use 2 electrons, so 4 electrons remain, giving 2 lone pairs. With 3 sigma bonds and 2 lone pairs there are 5 regions, sp\(^3\)d, but the shape is T-shaped, not a regular trigonal bipyramid.
(2) \(\mathrm{XeO_3F_2}\): 3 Xe=O and 2 Xe-F use 3 \(\times\) 2 + 2 = 8 electrons, so there are no lone pairs. 5 sigma bonds and 0 lone pairs give sp\(^3\)d hybridisation and a perfect trigonal bipyramidal geometry (3 oxygen atoms equatorial, 2 fluorine atoms axial).
(3) \(\mathrm{FXeOSO_2F}\): Xe has 2 sigma bonds (to F and to O) and 3 lone pairs, so the shape is linear.
(4) \([\mathrm{XeF_8}]^{2-}\): 8 bond pairs and 1 lone pair, sp\(^3\)d\(^3\), a square antiprismatic structure.
Only \(\mathrm{XeO_3F_2}\) is trigonal bipyramidal.
Answer: (2) \(\mathrm{XeO_3F_2}\)
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