MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Why is BF3 monomeric and not a dimer?

Date: Fri Dec 14 12:31:04 2001
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1006710561.Ch
Message:


Why is BF3 monomeric and not a dimer?

I know that B in BF3 does not satisfy the octet rule, so it should form a multicenter bond like BH3 does.... but it doesn't. I think it has something to do with the electronegativity of F but I am not sure. Thanks for any help you can give, I am really stumped.


Actually, the B in BF3 DOES satisfy the octet rule, by electron donation from the three fluorines:

resonance structures of BF3

That's why BF3 is monomeric.

In BH3, the only available electron donation is from a B-H bond in a neighboring BH3 molecule:

electron donation to B from a B-H bond which is usually shown as 3-center-2-electron bonding in B2H6

Dan Berger
Bluffton College
http://www.bluffton.edu/~bergerd



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