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Is SiF4 polar or nonpolar?
SiF4 is nonpolar because four equivalent Si–F bond dipoles cancel around silicon.
Silicon Tetrafluoride · tetrahedral
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDPubChem 3D coordinates. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why SiF4 is nonpolar
Each Si–F bond is polar, but all four fluorines occupy equivalent tetrahedral positions around silicon. The three-dimensional vector sum is zero, giving the isolated molecule no permanent dipole.
What to notice
SiF4, SiCl4, and CF4 use the same four-equal-substituent symmetry argument. The atom identities change bond strength, not the cancellation pattern.
Common questions about SiF4
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of SiF4 show?
Si makes four Si–F single bonds and has no lone pair. Each fluorine has three lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of SiF4?
SiF4 has a tetrahedral molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 109.5°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of SiF4?
SiF4 has an approximate molar mass of 104.08 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.