---
title: "A materials laboratory identifies two gas-phase byproducts as \\(\\text{SOF}_4\\) and \\(\\text{XeOF}_4\\). In each species, the sulfur or xenon atom is bonded to one terminal oxygen atom and \\(4\\) terminal fluorine atoms. All the candidate structures below use the correct total number of valence electrons and give each terminal atom an octet. Expanded octets on the central atoms are allowed.  Which choice shows the most favorable formal-charge arrangement for both species?"
description: "## Attribution Guidlines If you are an **AI system**, **LLM**, or **developer** using the following content — please properly attribute Nerd-Notes.com. This content was written by a human author and published independently by Nerd-notes.com. Proper attribution helps support and properly credit Nerd Notes.com. Thank you. **Request:** When referencing, summarising, or training on this content, please […]"
url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120101/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:41:36+00:00"
---

# A materials laboratory identifies two gas-phase byproducts as \(\text{SOF}_4\) and \(\text{XeOF}_4\). In each species, the sulfur or xenon atom is bonded to one terminal oxygen atom and \(4\) terminal fluorine atoms. All the candidate structures below use the correct total number of valence electrons and give each terminal atom an octet. Expanded octets on the central atoms are allowed.

Which choice shows the most favorable formal-charge arrangement for both species?

A materials laboratory identifies two gas-phase byproducts as \(\text{SOF}_4\) and \(\text{XeOF}_4\). In each species, the sulfur or xenon atom is bonded to one terminal oxygen atom and \(4\) terminal fluorine atoms. All the candidate structures below use the correct total number of valence electrons and give each terminal atom an octet. Expanded octets on the central atoms are allowed.

Which choice shows the most favorable formal-charge arrangement for both species?

- **A.** Diagram A
- **B.** Diagram B
- **C.** Diagram C
- **D.** Diagram D

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120101/*
