---
title: "During an analysis of \\(\\text{SF}_4\\), a fluorinating reagent, a student draws a Lewis diagram in which the central \\(\\text{S}\\) atom has \\(4\\) \\(\\text{S}-\\text{F}\\) single bonds and \\(1\\) lone pair. The student uses the VSEPR model to compare axial and equatorial placement of the lone pair within the resulting \\(5\\)-domain electron geometry. Which statement correctly predicts the molecular geometry of \\(\\text{SF}_4\\) and justifies the preferred position of the lone pair?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120036/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:40:49+00:00"
---

# During an analysis of \(\text{SF}_4\), a fluorinating reagent, a student draws a Lewis diagram in which the central \(\text{S}\) atom has \(4\) \(\text{S}-\text{F}\) single bonds and \(1\) lone pair. The student uses the VSEPR model to compare axial and equatorial placement of the lone pair within the resulting \(5\)-domain electron geometry. Which statement correctly predicts the molecular geometry of \(\text{SF}_4\) and justifies the preferred position of the lone pair?

During an analysis of \(\text{SF}_4\), a fluorinating reagent, a student draws a Lewis diagram in which the central \(\text{S}\) atom has \(4\) \(\text{S}-\text{F}\) single bonds and \(1\) lone pair. The student uses the VSEPR model to compare axial and equatorial placement of the lone pair within the resulting \(5\)-domain electron geometry. Which statement correctly predicts the molecular geometry of \(\text{SF}_4\) and justifies the preferred position of the lone pair?

- **A.** \(\text{SF}_4\) has a seesaw molecular geometry with the lone pair in an axial site, because an axial site has only \(2\) interactions of \(90^\circ\), whereas an equatorial site has \(3\).
- **B.** \(\text{SF}_4\) has a seesaw molecular geometry with the lone pair in an axial site, because occupying one axial direction places the lone pair \(180^\circ\) from the opposite axial bond, thereby minimizing electron-pair repulsion.
- **C.** \(\text{SF}_4\) has a trigonal-bipyramidal molecular geometry with the lone pair in an equatorial site, because an equatorial lone pair has only \(2\) interactions of \(90^\circ\), compared with \(3\) for an axial lone pair.
- **D.** \(\text{SF}_4\) has a seesaw molecular geometry with the lone pair in an equatorial site, because an equatorial lone pair has only \(2\) interactions of \(90^\circ\), compared with \(3\) for an axial lone pair.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120036/*