Which of the following best describes the correct Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound CHF?

• A. Carbon is the central atom, single-bonded to both hydrogen and fluorine, with three lone pairs on fluorine.
• B. Fluorine is the central atom, single-bonded to both carbon and hydrogen, with two lone pairs on carbon.
• C. Carbon is the central atom, double-bonded to fluorine and single-bonded to hydrogen, with two lone pairs on fluorine.
• D. Hydrogen is the central atom, single-bonded to both carbon and fluorine, with one lone pair on hydrogen.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the atoms involved and their typical bonding patterns. Carbon (C) usually forms 4 bonds, hydrogen (H) forms 1 bond, and fluorine (F) forms 1 bond and typically has 3 lone pairs to complete its octet.
2. Step 2: Determine the central atom. Usually, the least electronegative atom (except hydrogen) is the central atom. Hydrogen is never central because it can only form one bond. Between carbon and fluorine, carbon is less electronegative, so carbon is the central atom.
3. Step 3: Connect the atoms with single bonds initially. Draw carbon in the center bonded to hydrogen and fluorine each with a single bond.
4. Step 4: Complete the octets of the outer atoms first. Hydrogen only needs 2 electrons (already satisfied by one bond), fluorine needs 8 electrons total, so add three lone pairs (6 electrons) to fluorine to complete its octet.
5. Step 5: Check the central atom's octet. Carbon has two single bonds (4 electrons). Since carbon can have 8 electrons, check if double bonds are necessary. In this case, carbon's octet is satisfied with single bonds to hydrogen and fluorine, so no double bonds are needed.