A valid Lewis structure of ________ cannot be drawn without violating the octet rule. A)PO₄^3- B)SiF₄ C)CF₄ D)SeF₄ E)NF₃

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The only option that violates the octet rule is option D, SeF. Selenium has an atomic number of 34, which means that it can accommodate up to 10 valence electrons, and fluorine has an atomic number of 9, meaning that it can accommodate up to 7 valence electrons. Therefore, SeF should ideally complete its octet with 2 more electrons, but in a Lewis structure, this would require Se to have 12 valence electrons, which is not possible. Therefore, a valid Lewis structure of SeF cannot be drawn without violating the octet rule.

A Valid Lewis Structure of ________ Cannot Be Drawn Without