Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of CF_4 (carbon tetrafluoride)?

• A. The central carbon atom forms four single bonds with four fluorine atoms, and each fluorine atom has two lone pairs.
• B. The central carbon atom forms four single bonds with four fluorine atoms, and each fluorine atom has three lone pairs.
• C. The central carbon atom forms two double bonds with two fluorine atoms, and each fluorine atom has two lone pairs.
• D. The central carbon atom forms one triple bond with one fluorine atom and three single bonds with the other fluorine atoms.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the total number of valence electrons for each atom: Carbon (C) has 4 valence electrons, and each Fluorine (F) atom has 7 valence electrons.
2. Calculate the total valence electrons in CF_4 by adding the valence electrons of one carbon atom and four fluorine atoms: \$4 + 4 \times 7$.
3. Determine the bonding pattern by recognizing that carbon typically forms four bonds to complete its octet, and fluorine typically forms one bond and has three lone pairs to complete its octet.
4. Draw the Lewis structure with carbon as the central atom bonded to four fluorine atoms via single bonds, and assign three lone pairs to each fluorine atom to satisfy the octet rule.
5. Verify that all atoms have complete octets: carbon has 8 electrons from four single bonds, and each fluorine has 8 electrons from one bond plus three lone pairs.