Examples

Sulfur is the central atom:

 

There are 6 + 4×7 = 34 valence electrons, and 8 are taken for making 4 covalent bonds. Each fluorine takes three lone pairs, so there are 34 – (8 + 4×6) = 2 electrons left which go to the sulfur as a lone pair:

 

 

The central atom has 4 atoms connected to it, and one lone pair, therefore, the electron geometry is trigonal bipyramidal while the molecular geometry is seesaw:

 

 

Notice that the lone pair does not go in an axial position (up or down).

There are 5 units (atoms and lone pairs) on the central atom, and to accommodate them, it needs 5 orbitals which is achieved through sp3d hybridization.

 

Check this 99-question multiple-choice quiz on Geometry and Hybridization:

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Geometry and Hybridization Quiz

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