sp3d2 Hybridization

sp³d² Hybridization

In SF₆ the central sulphur atom has the ground state outer electronic configuration 3s²3p⁴. In the exited state the available six orbitals i.e., one s, three p and two d are singly occupied by electrons. These orbitals hybridise to form six new sp³d² hybrid orbitals, which are projected towards the six corners of a regular octahedron in SF₆. These six sp³d² hybrid orbitals overlap with singly occupied orbitals of fluorine atoms to form six S-F sigma bonds. Thus SF₆ molecule has a regular octahedral geometry as shown below