(A) The central atom $P$ has $5$ valence electrons. In $PF_3$,it forms $3$ $P-F$ sigma bonds and has $1$ lone pair. The steric number is calculated as

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(A) The central atom $P$ has $5$ valence electrons. In $PF_3$,it forms $3$ $P-F$ sigma bonds and has $1$ lone pair. The steric number is calculated as: $\text{Steric Number} = \text{Number of sigma bonds} + \text{Number of lone pairs} = 3 + 1 = 4$. $A$ steric number of $4$ corresponds to $sp^3$ hybridization.