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Does #SF_4# have geometrical isomers?

Answer 1

No, and nor would #SF_2X_2# at room temperature.

The structure of #SF_4# is based on a trigonal bipyramid to a first approximation, i.e. there are 5 electron pairs, bonding and non-bonding around the central sulfur atom. Because we do not describe the structure of the molecule based on lone pairs, a see-saw or Canada goose type structure is indicated,

The #/_S-F-S# bond angles would be #180""^@# and #120""^@# in a perfect trigonal bipyramid. Because of the stereochemically active lone pair on sulfur, these angles are compressed to approx. #170""^@# and #110""^@# in the actual molecule (you'll have to search the interwebz for confirmation/contradiction).

At room temperature, all of the fluorine atoms would be equivalent in a suitable experiment (#""^19F# NMR spectroscopy would be definitive). You would have to chill the molecule substantially to freeze out the axial/equatorial exchange.

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Answer 2

Madison Anderson

No, SF4 does not have geometrical isomers because it has a seesaw molecular geometry, which does not allow for different spatial arrangements of its atoms.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.