Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound SiF_4?

• A. Si is at the center with two double bonds to two F atoms, and each F atom has two lone pairs.
• B. Si is at the center with four single bonds to four F atoms, and each F atom has two lone pairs.
• C. Si is at the center with one double bond to one F atom and three single bonds to the other F atoms.
• D. Si is at the center with four single bonds to four F atoms, and each F atom has three lone pairs.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the central atom in the molecule SiF_4, which is silicon (Si), because it is less electronegative than fluorine (F) and can form multiple bonds.
2. Determine the total number of valence electrons available: Si has 4 valence electrons, and each F atom has 7 valence electrons, so total valence electrons = 4 + (4 × 7) = 32 electrons.
3. Distribute electrons to form bonds: place single bonds between Si and each F atom, using 2 electrons per bond, which accounts for 8 electrons total.
4. Assign the remaining electrons as lone pairs to the fluorine atoms to complete their octets. Each F atom needs 6 more electrons (3 lone pairs) to reach 8 electrons total.
5. Verify that the central Si atom has a complete octet by counting the bonding electrons (4 single bonds × 2 electrons each = 8 electrons) and confirm that the structure is neutral and follows the octet rule.