The hybridization of the central sulfur atom in SF₆ is sp³d².
Six sigma bonds:
In SF₆, the sulfur atom forms six single bonds with six fluorine atoms, requiring six hybrid orbitals. sp³d² hybridization:
To accommodate six bonds, the sulfur atom needs to hybridize its one s orbital, three p orbitals, and two d orbitals to create six sp³d² hybrid orbitals.