Question
Question: Complete hydrolysis of \(Xe{F_4}\) and \(Xe{F_6}\) results in the formation of \(Xe{O_3}\) . Explain...
Complete hydrolysis of XeF4 and XeF6 results in the formation of XeO3 . Explain.
Solution
A chemical reaction in which a molecule of water is added to a substance is known as hydrolysis. When this happens, both the material and the water molecule will break into two. One fragment of the target molecule (or parent molecule) gains a hydrogen ion in certain reactions.
Complete answer:
At 298K, XeF4, and XeF6 are colourless crystalline solids that are easily sublime. They're fluorinating agents with a lot of energy. Also traces of water are enough to hydrolyse them.
Hydrolysis of XeF6:
One of the three binary fluorides generated by xenon is XeF6. When XeF6 is completely hydrolysed, XeO3 (xenon trioxide) is generated. In solution, xenon trioxide is highly volatile and serves as a potent oxidizer.
XeF6+3H2O→XeO3+6HF
Hydrolysis of XeF4:
As xenon tetrafluoride combines with water, it produces xenon, oxygen, hydrofluoric acid, and a highly soluble xenon species. When the solution is evaporated, a white, crystal-line material known as xenon (VI) oxide, XeO(III), is formed . When it comes into contact with organic products, it becomes dangerously explosive.
6XeF4+12H2O→4Xe+2XeO3+24HF+3O2
As XeF4 is partially hydrolyzed, it releases xenon oxydifluoride (XeOF2).
XeF4+H2O→XeOF2+2HF
Note:
Xenon can be split into three fluorides: XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6. In the right laboratory conditions, this can be achieved by a direct reaction of xenon and fluorine. In its +6 oxidation state, xenon trioxide is an acidic xenon compound. It's a powerful oxidizer that steadily releases oxygen from water, which is accelerated by exposure to sunlight.