Why is there no dimers in Boron Chloride BCl3?

Subject: Why is there no dimers in Boron Chloride BCl3?

Date: Wed Feb 2 04:19:23 2005
Posted by No name entered.
Grade level: 10-12 School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1107339563.Ch

Message:


Aluminium Chloride AlCl3 molecules exist as dimers There is empty orbital on 
Aluminium atom. Chloride atoms form dative covalent bond with Aluminium atom 
with their lone pair electrons, which give rise to a dimer.

Boron is in the same group as Aluminium, but why doesn't BCl3 form dimers? 
Textbooks just state the fact but with no explaination given. Thanks for the 
help!

Cheers
Simon

Re: Why is there no dimers in Boron Chloride BCl3?

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