Lewis Structure of SeF4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (2024)

Lewis structure of SeF4 contains four single bonds between the Selenium (Se) atom and each Fluorine (F) atom. The Selenium atom (Se) is at the center and it is surrounded by 4 Fluorine atoms (F). The Selenium atom has 1 lone pair while all the four fluorine atoms have 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of SeF4).

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of SeF4

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is SeF4. In order to draw the lewis structure of SeF4, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the SeF4 molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in SeF4

• For Selenium:

Selenium is a group 16 element on the periodic table. ^[1]

Hence, the valence electrons present in selenium is 6 (see below image).

• For Fluorine:

See Also

SeF4 Lewis Structure, Geometry, Hybridization, and Polarity - TechiescientistStructure SeF4 Lewis en 5 étapes (avec images) - Chemuza10.5: Writing Lewis Structures for Covalent Compounds4.7: Drawing Lewis Structures

Fluorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table. ^[2]

Hence, the valence electrons present in fluorine is 7 (see below image).

Hence in a SeF4 molecule,

Valence electrons given by Selenium (Se) atom = 6
Valence electrons given by each Fluorine (F) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in SeF4 molecule = 6 + 7(4) = 34

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, always put the least electronegative atom at the center.

(Remember: Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table and the electronegativity decreases as we move right to left in the periodic table as well as top to bottom in the periodic table). [3]

Here in the SeF4 molecule, if we compare the selenium atom (Se) and fluorine atom (F), then the selenium is less electronegative than fluorine.

So, selenium should be placed in the center and the remaining 4 fluorine atoms will surround it.

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of SeF4 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each selenium atom and fluorine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

These pairs of electrons present between the Selenium (Se) and Fluorine (F) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the selenium and fluorine atoms with each other in a SeF4 molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atoms. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons pair on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of SeF4, the outer atoms are fluorine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these fluorine atoms (because fluorine requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

Now, you can see in the above image that all the fluorine atoms form an octet.

Also, only 32 valence electrons of SeF4 molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 34 valence electrons in SeF4 molecule (as calculated in step #1).

So the number of electrons left to be kept on the central atom = 34 – 32 = 2.

So let’s keep these two electrons (i.e electron pair) on the central atom.

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Final step – Check the stability of lewis structure by calculating the formal charge on each atom

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on selenium atom (Se) as well as each fluorine atom (F).

For that, you need to remember the formula of formal charge;

Formal charge = Valence electrons – Nonbonding electrons – (Bonding electrons)/2

• For Selenium:
  Valence electrons = 6 (as it is in group 16)
  Nonbonding electrons = 2
  Bonding electrons = 8
• For Fluorine:
  Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
  Nonbonding electrons = 6
  Bonding electrons = 2

So you can see above that the formal charges on selenium as well as fluorine are “zero”.

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of SeF4 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of SeF4 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of SeF4 can also be represented as shown below.

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of H3PO4
Lewis Structure of H2Se
Lewis Structure of SOCl2
Lewis Structure of ICl2-
Lewis Structure of ICl5

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