Final answer:
The central atom in XeF4 is Xenon (Xe) and it is sp³d² hybridized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central atom in XeF4 is Xenon (Xe). In XeF4, Xenon forms four bonds with fluorine atoms and has two lone pairs of electrons. The VSEPR model predicts that XeF4 has a square planar molecular geometry, with six electron pairs. Based on this arrangement, the central atom (Xe) is sp³d² hybridized. In XeF4, four of the six sp³d² hybrid orbitals form Xe-F bonds, and the remaining two orbitals are occupied by the lone pairs of electrons.