Numford
Hybridisation

Hybridisation of OF₂

O is sp³ hybridised (hybridization by the VSEPR count): 2 sigma bonds and 2 lone pairs give a bent shape, bond angle about 103°.

FOF
  • O
  • F
  • lone pair

OF₂Oxygen difluoride

Bent

AB₂E₂: 2 bond pairs, 2 lone pairs

  • Hybridisationsp³
  • Bond angleabout 103°
  • Polaritypolar

Why this shape

  1. O has 6 valence electrons. It uses two in two single bonds to F, so four are left as two lone pairs.
  2. Steric number = two sigma bonds + two lone pairs = 4, so O is sp³ hybridised.
  3. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With two lone pairs in place of atoms, the atoms make a bent shape.
  4. F pulls the bond pairs away from O, so they repel each other less than in water and the angle closes to about 103 degrees.
  5. The bond dipoles do not cancel in the bent shape, so OF₂ is polar.

Lewis structure

20 valence electrons
OFF

Formal charges: none

Working

Why this hybridisation and shape

  1. O has 6 valence electrons. It uses two in two single bonds to F, so four are left as two lone pairs.
  2. Steric number = two sigma bonds + two lone pairs = 4, so O is sp³ hybridised.
  3. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With two lone pairs in place of atoms, the atoms make a bent shape.
  4. F pulls the bond pairs away from O, so they repel each other less than in water and the angle closes to about 103 degrees.
  5. The bond dipoles do not cancel in the bent shape, so OF₂ is polar.

Class 11, Chapter 4 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure.

Questions

Hybridisation of OF2: quick answers

What is the hybridisation of OF2?

O has 6 valence electrons. It uses two in two single bonds to F, so four are left as two lone pairs. Steric number = two sigma bonds + two lone pairs = 4, so O is sp³ hybridised.

What is the shape of OF2 and its bond angle?

Bent, with a bond angle of about 103 degrees. Four electron pairs point to the corners of a tetrahedron (tetrahedral electron geometry). With two lone pairs in place of atoms, the atoms make a bent shape. F pulls the bond pairs away from O, so they repel each other less than in water and the angle closes to about 103 degrees.

Is OF2 polar or non-polar?

Polar. The bond dipoles do not cancel in the bent shape, so OF₂ is polar.

Try any molecule