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Exercises · 11.3

Q.Why does boron trifluoride behave as a Lewis acid?

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✓ Free question

Step 1 - Electron count on boron

Boron in BF3\text{BF}_3 uses its three valence electrons to form three sigma bonds to the three F atoms (sp2sp^2 hybridisation, trigonal planar geometry, bond angle 120∘120^\circ); this uses only 6 electrons around boron, leaving its octet incomplete.

Step 2 - The vacant orbital

The unused, empty 2pz2p_z orbital on boron (perpendicular to the molecular plane) is available to accept an incoming lone pair of electrons from a donor species.

Step 3 - Example reaction

BF3+: ⁣NH3→F3B ⁣← ⁣NH3\text{BF}_3 + :\!\text{NH}_3 \rightarrow \text{F}_3\text{B}\!\leftarrow\!\text{NH}_3

Here boron's empty orbital accepts the nitrogen lone pair, forming a coordinate (dative) bond and completing boron's octet - this electron-pair-acceptor behaviour is the very definition of a Lewis acid.

✓Final answer

BF3 is a Lewis acid: boron is sp2-hybridised with only 6 electrons around it (incomplete octet) and a vacant 2p orbital that readily accepts an electron pair from a Lewis base such as NH3, e.g. BF3 + NH3 -> F3B<-NH3.

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