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Question:

Which of the following fluorides of xenon is impossible?

XeF4

XeF6

XeF3

XeF2

Solution:

Xenon is an inert gas. Its electronic configuration is [Kr]4d105s25p6. All orbitals that are filled have paired electrons. When one, two or three electrons are promoted from 5p (filled) to 5d (empty) orbitals, two, four and six half-filled orbitals are formed. Xenon can combine with an even number of F atoms to form XeF2, XeF4 or XeF6. It cannot combine with an odd number of F atoms. Thus, formation of XeF3 and XeF5 is not possible.