Important Topic of Chemistry - Boron Trifluoride

Boron Trifluoride

Boron trifluoride, abbreviated BF₃, is an inorganic chemical. In damp air, this smelly, colourless poisonous gas emits white vapours. It functions as a Lewis acid and a flexible building block for other boron compounds.
Because Boron requires one (pi) bond to double bind, BF₃ possesses sp² hybridization, yet it only produced three bonds per atom. Boron’s outer shell orbitals S- and P- combine to form three more sp² equivalent hybrid orbitals.

Molecular Geometry

Fluorine atoms are at the top of the equilateral triangle produced by Boron atoms in BF₃. As a result, its molecular geometry is trigonal planar.
Three atoms form a single connection with the center atom.
Three BF bonds are at 120^o and in the same plane. Because all three electrons are linked to the Boron atom, there are no three lone pairs in BF₃.

Bonding Angle

A molecule’s polarity or non-polarity is heavily influenced by its structure and form.
These are determined by the electron bond angles. The bond angle of BF₃ is 120°, with all atoms aligned in one plane. In the Lewis Structure, a fluorine atom is positioned at 120° and is coupled with the core atom Boron.
This is the best Lewis Structure created with single attachments to the core molecule based on the chemistry and VSEPR model.

Hybridization

In its ground state, BF₃ has a boron atom with three outer-shell electrons and three fluorine atoms with seven outer electrons.
Furthermore, if we look closely, we can see that one boron electron is unpaired in the ground state. The 2s orbital and two 2p orbitals hybridize during the synthesis of this molecule.
As the lone pair, just one of the vacant p-orbitals remains.
In summary, Boron requires three hybridized orbitals to establish bonds with three F atoms, where the 2pz orbitals overlap with the hybridized sp² orbitals, and bonds are produced.
Typically, the three hybridized sp² orbitals are grouped in a triangle configuration.
Bonding between three B sp² orbitals and three F,p orbitals results in the formation of the BF₃ molecule. In BF₃, all of the bonds are sigma bonds.

speak to our academic counsellor

access to India's best teachers with a record of producing top rankers year on year.

+91

Unlock the full solution & master the concept

Get a detailed solution and exclusive access to our masterclass to ensure you never miss a concept

Ready to Test Your Skills?

Check Your Performance Today with our Free Mock Tests used by Toppers!

Take Free Test

create your own test

YOUR TOPIC, YOUR DIFFICULTY, YOUR PACE

start learning for free

Boron Trifluoride FAQs

What exactly is BF3 and how did it come to be?

At room temperature, BF3, commonly known as Boron Trifluoride, is a gas. It is an inorganic compound that serves as a building block for many other Boron compounds. It is also extremely poisonous. When it is developed. The creation of BF3 may be explained by its hybridization, which occurs when three 'sp2' hybrid orbitals of Boron establish a bond with three 'p' orbitals of Fluorine.

Why is there no lone pair in BF3?

Because there are only six valence electrons in BF3, there is no lone pair. Furthermore, because it contains second-period covalent molecules, it violates the octet rule. There are three bound groups, indicating that it possesses trigonal geometry and hence no lone pairs.

In BF3, how many electrons surround Boron?

According to the Lewis structure, there are six valence electrons around Boron in BF3. Boron's octal is not full, which is a highly unusual occurrence. As a result, BF3 is classified as a Lewis acid.