How VSEPR theory help explain SF4 shape?
VSEPR theory predicts the molecular geometry of a molecule by considering the repulsion between electron pairs around the central atom. In the case of SF4, there are five regions of electron density around the sulfur atom, leading to a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. However, one of the regions is a lone pair, causing greater repulsion and pushing the fluorine atoms closer together, resulting in a see-saw shape for SF4.