Question

Write the balanced equation for the complete hydrolysis of \[Xe{F_6}\].

Answer 1

Hint: Xenon can only form fluorides or oxides. A reaction with water offers only two possibilities that either a hydride would be formed (which does not happen in the case of Xenon) or an oxide will be formed. The nature of bonds being broken and formed should be kept in mind.

Complete answer:
Hydrolysis is a type of reaction in which the existing bonds of a chemical compound are broken down by the action of water on it.
Hydrolysis can be partial or complete. A complete hydrolysis results in the replacement of all the existing bonds of a compound and the central atom forms new bonds. Partial hydrolysis results in the replacement of a few existing bonds while retaining some of them. The degree of partial hydrolysis can vary depending upon the number of water molecules utilized in the reaction with one mole of the compound.
\[Xe{F_6}\] is a covalent molecule with distorted octahedral geometry that contains a total of six \[Xe - F\]bonds. Fluorine forms single bonds with Xenon and hence six fluorine atoms are utilized in making one \[Xe{F_6}\] molecule. Oxygen forms double bonds with Xenon, hence for each water molecule reacting with \[Xe{F_6}\]two \[Xe - F\] bonds are being replaced by a \[Xe = O\](double bond).
Thus, a complete hydrolysis requires a total of three water molecules to replace all six \[Xe - F\]bonds with three \[Xe = O\] bonds.
The balanced equation for the complete hydrolysis of \[Xe{F_6}\] is:
\[Xe{F_6} + 3{H_2}O \to Xe{O_3} + 6HF\]

Note:
Xenon is a noble gas with a fully filled valence shell i.e. its octet is complete. Xenon does not need to lose, gain or share electrons in order to satisfy its valency yet it forms compounds with only fluorine and oxygen due to their extremely high electronegativity. Only these two elements are able to pull away electrons from a noble gas like Xenon.