Question

State reasons for the following:
 $ S{F_6} $ is kinetically inert substance

Answer 1

Hint: Sulphur hexafluoride ( $ S{F_6} $ ) is an inorganic, colourless, odourless, non-inflammable, non-toxic and hypervalent molecule. It is usually used as an electrical insulator and arc suppressant. It has a density higher than air and is usually transported as liquefied compressed gas.

Complete step by step solution:
Sulphur hexafluoride ( $ S{F_6} $ ) has an octahedral geometry where the sulphur atom is being surrounded by six fluorine atoms. Sulphur hexafluoride ( $ S{F_6} $ ) is usually prepared by exposing sulphur ( $ {S_8} $ ) to fluorine ( $ {F_2} $ ). It is an inorganic non - polar gas. $ S{F_6} $ is $ s{p^3}{d^2} $ hybridised and during its formation the central sulphur atom is in its ground state having $ 3{s^2}3{p^4} $ configuration. It consists of six $ s{p^3}{d^2} $ hybridised orbitals that are projected towards six corners of a regular octahedron.
In $ S{F_6} $ the central sulphur atom is sterically surrounded by the protection of six fluorine ( $ F $ ) atoms where the $ F - S - F $ bonds are slated to be at an angle of $ 90^\circ $ . The fluorine atom surrounding the central sulphur atom protects the sulphur atom without allowing the water molecules to get in. Also, fluorine doesn’t have vacant $ d - $ orbitals to accept the electron which is being donated by $ {H_2}O $ .
Thus $ S{F_6} $ stays to be kinetically inert.

Note:
 $ S{F_6} $ is a type of greenhouse gas which is colourless, odourless, non-toxic and non – flammable. It is inert in nature in the troposphere and stratosphere. $ S{F_6} $ is commonly used as a high voltage dielectric in high voltage supplies.