Question

HOF is the only known molecule that contains only the elements hydrogen, oxygen and fluorine.
- Draw a dot-and cross diagram to represent the bonding in a molecule of HOF.
- Show the outer shell electrons only.

Answer 1

Hint: In order to give the dot-and-cross diagram to represent the bonding in HOF molecule, we must first have an idea about what a HOF is. We have to know about the atomic number and the electronic configurations of Hydrogen, oxygen and fluorine separately.

Complete step by step answer:
- Let us first understand about the HOF molecule. HOF is the chemical formula for hypofluorous acid. It is said to be the one and only oxoacid of fluorine. The fluorine atom will gain electrons from the oxygen atom to obtain a negative oxidation state. The oxidation state of oxygen in HOF is 0. The hypofluorous acid is in the solid state. The hypofluorous acid is explosive in nature.
- HOF is a molecule which contains three chemical elements in it. They are Hydrogen, oxygen and fluorine.
- Fluorine is a chemical element with an atomic number of 9 and is represented by the chemical symbol F and it is having electronic configuration is \[1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^5}\]. The number of valence electrons present in F is 7.
- Oxygen is a chemical element with an atomic number of 8 and is represented by the chemical symbol O and it is having electronic configuration is \[1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^4}\]. The number of valence electrons present in O is 6.
- Hydrogen is a chemical element with an atomic number of 1 and is represented by the chemical symbol H and it is having electronic configuration is \[1{s^1}\]. The number of valence electrons present in H is 1.
By using these valence electrons, we can draw the dot-and cross diagram of HOF.

Note: Let us see what are the other oxoacids of halogens other than hypofluorous acid.
- hypochlorous acid
- hypobromous acid
- Hypoiodous acid
- Chlorous acid
- Chloric acid
- Bromic acid
- Iodic acid
- Perchloric acid
- Perbromic acid
- Periodic acid