---
title: "A student compares two hypervalent species relevant to halogen-based materials processing. The xenon species is a hypothetical neutral derivative of \\(\\text{XeF}_4\\). For each species, the most favorable formal-charge arrangement has only single bonds between the central atom and the terminal halogen atoms, and every terminal halogen has a complete octet.  | Species | Total valence electrons | Number of central-atom bonds | |—|—:|—:| | \\(\\text{I}_3^-\\) | \\(22\\) | \\(2\\) | | \\(\\text{XeF}_2\\text{Cl}_2\\) | \\(36\\) | \\(4\\) |  Using VSEPR theory and the localized hybridization model, which row correctly gives the molecular geometry and hybridization of each central atom?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120061/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:52:35+00:00"
---

# A student compares two hypervalent species relevant to halogen-based materials processing. The xenon species is a hypothetical neutral derivative of \(\text{XeF}_4\). For each species, the most favorable formal-charge arrangement has only single bonds between the central atom and the terminal halogen atoms, and every terminal halogen has a complete octet.

| Species | Total valence electrons | Number of central-atom bonds |
|—|—:|—:|
| \(\text{I}_3^-\) | \(22\) | \(2\) |
| \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\) | \(36\) | \(4\) |

Using VSEPR theory and the localized hybridization model, which row correctly gives the molecular geometry and hybridization of each central atom?

A student compares two hypervalent species relevant to halogen-based materials processing. The xenon species is a hypothetical neutral derivative of \(\text{XeF}_4\). For each species, the most favorable formal-charge arrangement has only single bonds between the central atom and the terminal halogen atoms, and every terminal halogen has a complete octet.

| Species | Total valence electrons | Number of central-atom bonds |
|---|---:|---:|
| \(\text{I}_3^-\) | \(22\) | \(2\) |
| \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\) | \(36\) | \(4\) |

Using VSEPR theory and the localized hybridization model, which row correctly gives the molecular geometry and hybridization of each central atom?

- **A.** \(\text{I}_3^-\): linear, \(\text{sp}^3\text{d}\); \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\): tetrahedral, \(\text{sp}^3\)
- **B.** \(\text{I}_3^-\): linear, \(\mathrm{sp^3d}\); \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\): square planar, \(\mathrm{sp^3d^2}\)
- **C.** \(\text{I}_3^-\): trigonal bipyramidal, \(\mathrm{sp^3d}\); \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\): square planar, \(\mathrm{sp^3d^2}\)
- **D.** \(\text{I}_3^-\): trigonal bipyramidal, \(\mathrm{sp^3d}\); \(\text{XeF}_2\text{Cl}_2\): tetrahedral, \(\mathrm{sp^3}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120061/*