Lewis Structure of BF3
Boron trifluoride (BF3) is a colorless, odorless gas with a molecular weight of 67.81 g/mol. It is a very stable compound that is used in a variety of applications, including the production of plastics, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
The Lewis structure of BF3 is as follows:
B F |\ /| | | F-B-F In this structure, the boron atom is the central atom and is surrounded by three fluorine atoms. Each fluorine atom has seven valence electrons, and each boron atom has three valence electrons. To satisfy the octet rule, each fluorine atom shares one of its valence electrons with the boron atom to form a single bond. This leaves each fluorine atom with an octet of electrons, and the boron atom with six electrons.
Questions and Discussion
- Why does boron only have six valence electrons in the Lewis structure of BF3?
Boron is an exception to the octet rule. Boron atoms have only three valence electrons, which is not enough to form an octet of electrons. However, boron atoms can still be stable with six electrons because they can use their d orbitals to accommodate more electrons.
- What is the molecular geometry of BF3?
The molecular geometry of BF3 is trigonal planar. This means that the three fluorine atoms are arranged in a plane around the boron atom, with bond angles of 120 degrees.
- Is BF3 polar or nonpolar?
BF3 is a nonpolar molecule. This is because the fluorine atoms are arranged symmetrically around the boron atom, so there is no net dipole moment.
- What are the formal charges of the atoms in BF3?
The formal charges of the atoms in BF3 are as follows:
Atom | Formal Charge ---|--- B | 0 F | 0 The formal charge of an atom is calculated by subtracting the number of valence electrons from the number of electrons that the atom has in its Lewis structure, minus the number of electrons that the atom shares in covalent bonds. In the case of BF3, each fluorine atom has seven valence electrons, and it shares one electron in a covalent bond. Therefore, each fluorine atom has a formal charge of 0. The boron atom has three valence electrons, and it shares three electrons in covalent bonds. Therefore, the boron atom also has a formal charge of 0.
Conclusion
The Lewis structure of BF3 is a simple but important concept in chemistry. It can be used to understand the bonding in BF3 and to predict its properties.