which of the following has the greatest number of nonbonding pairs of electrons?

[akakakakak]

He, F, C, H, S

...answer is F - but why?

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[plusalpha]

The question is, why not? How did you go about trying to solve this problem in the first place?

 

[tyjacobs]

F- has 8 valence electrons (4 pairs). Because F- has a full octet, each pair is non bonding

Every other answer choice doesn't have 8 valence electrons

 

[DAT Destroyer]

He, F, C, H, S

...answer is F - but why?

Hello akakakakak,

Fluorine is located in the group 7, therefore has 7 valence electrons.
Since, here it has a negative charge, it gains one more, now it is 8.
That is why answer is F-, it has 4 lone pairs.

Hope it helps.

 

[akakakakak]

Hello akakakakak,

Fluorine is located in the group 7, therefore has 7 valence electrons.
Since, here it has a negative charge, it gains one more, now it is 8.
That is why answer is F-, it has 4 lone pairs.

Hope it helps.

Thanks I figured it out!

 

[akakakakak]

and btw the answer is (F), not F-. When I said "...answer is F - but why?" I was using the dash as a comma...

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Thanks I figured it out!

Great !