Symmetry Lab › D4h › Xenon tetrafluoride
XeF₄ Xenon tetrafluoride
Square planar · point group D4h · order 16
- Point group
- D4h — A C4 principal axis, 4 perpendicular C2 axes and a horizontal mirror plane; these also give 4 vertical planes and a centre of inversion.
- Order
- 16
- Operations
- E, 2C₄, C₂, 2C₂′, 2C₂″, i, 2S₄, σh, 2σᵥ, 2σd
- Shape
- Square planar
- Atoms
- 5 (Xe, F × 4)
Symmetry elements of XeF₄
- C₄ — perpendicular to the plane; also C₂ and S₄
- C₂′ (x) — through two opposite F atoms
- C₂′ (y) — through the other two
- C₂″ (1) — in the plane, between the ligands
- C₂″ (2) — in the plane, between the ligands
- i — centre of inversion
- σh — the plane of the molecule
- σᵥ (xz) — contains the C₄ axis and two ligands
- σᵥ (yz) — contains the C₄ axis and the other two
- σd (1) — contains the C₄ axis, between ligands
- σd (2) — contains the C₄ axis, between ligands
- S₄ — rotate 90°, then reflect in σh
Structure
- Xe–F 1.953 Å
- F–Xe–F 90° and 180°
- Two lone pairs on Xe, above and below the plane
Other D4h molecules
[Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ (N atoms shown)Tetraammineplatinum(II) ion[AuCl₄]⁻Tetrachloroaurate(III) ion[ICl₄]⁻Tetrachloroiodate(III) ion[PdCl₄]²⁻Tetrachloropalladate(II) ion[PtCl₄]²⁻Tetrachloroplatinate(II) ion[BrF₄]⁻Tetrafluorobromate(III) iontrans-[CoCl₂(NH₃)₄]⁺trans-Tetraamminedichlorocobalt(III) (N atoms shown)C₄H₄²⁻Cyclobutadiene dianion (planar)[Ni(CN)₄]²⁻Tetracyanonickelate(II) ion[Pt(CN)₄]²⁻Tetracyanoplatinate(II) ion[Re₂Cl₈]²⁻Octachlorodirhenate(III) iontrans-[OsCl₂(CO)₄]trans-Dichlorotetracarbonylosmium(II)