BF₃ is planar and electron deficient compound. Hybridization and number of electrons around the central atom, respectively are :
Correct Answer :
sp² and 6
Solution :
To determine the hybridization and the number of electrons around the central atom in boron trifluoride (), we can analyze its chemical structure step-by-step.
Step 1: Identify the central atom and its valence electrons
In , the central atom is boron (). Boron belongs to Group 13 of the periodic table, so it has 3 valence electrons in its outermost shell.
Step 2: Determine the bonding and hybridization
Boron shares its 3 valence electrons with 3 fluorine atoms to form 3 single covalent bonds (-bonds). There are no lone pairs of electrons left on the boron atom.
We can calculate the steric number to find the hybridization:
Steric Number = (Number of -bonds) + (Number of lone pairs on central atom)
Steric Number = 3 + 0 = 3
A steric number of 3 corresponds to hybridization, which gives the molecule a trigonal planar geometry.
Step 3: Calculate the total number of electrons around the central atom
Since boron forms 3 covalent bonds and each covalent bond consists of 2 shared electrons, the total number of electrons in the valence shell of boron in is:
3 bonds × 2 electrons/bond = 6 electrons
Because the boron atom is surrounded by only 6 valence electrons instead of a stable octet (8 electrons), it is classified as an electron-deficient compound.
Therefore, the hybridization is and the number of electrons around the central boron atom is 6.
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