Question

Choose a Lewis structure for BF3.

Answer 1

Concept and reason

The concept used is to draw the Lewis structure of the given compound.

Fundamentals

A Lewis structure is the structure of molecule that shows the bonding of the atoms in a molecule including the lone pair of electrons.

First identify the valence electrons that each atom in a molecule contributes. Then draw the skeletal structure by identifying the central atom. Then make sure that each atom satisfies the octet by adding multiple bonds (if required). The remaining electrons are draw as lone pairs of electrons.

1.

Consider .

There is one Boron atom and 3 fluorine atoms.

Each B atom contributes 3 valence electrons. Each F atom contributes 7 valence electrons.

Boron is the central atom to which three F atoms are bonded.

Draw the skeletal structure of the molecule as follows:

There are 6 valence electrons in the above skeletal structure so the remaining valence electrons are 18.

Boron can form only three bonds.

So, assign the remaining 18 electrons by adding three lone pairs of electrons to each F atom.

The Lewis structure of is as follows:

All the atoms satisfy the octet except boron.

Ans: Part 1

The Lewis structure of is .