Identify a molecule with incomplete octet from following.

Identify a molecule with incomplete octet from following.
  1. $\mathrm{SF}_6$
  2. $\mathrm{PCl}_5$
  3. $\mathrm{LiCl}$
  4. $\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4$

Solution

$\mathrm{Li}$ in $\mathrm{LiCl}$ has less than eight electrons in its valence shell. It has only four electrons. Hence, it has an incomplete octet. Molecules like $\mathrm{SF}_6$, $\mathrm{PCl}_5, \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4$ have an expanded octet. They have more than eight electrons around the central atom.

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (11 May Shift 1)

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