Boron trichloride is an inorganic chemical compound used as a Lewis acid in organic synthesis and as a catalyst in many other processes. It also plays a significant role in the metallurgical industry as a refining agent and soldering flux.
The boiling point of BCl3 is 12.5 °C. It is a colorless transparent liquid with strong odor. It is corrosive when heated and releases smoke. In humid conditions, it reacts violently with water to form hydrogen chloride and boric acid.
Does the boron in the BCl3 structure follow the expanded octet rule?
Expanded octet rule states that the central atom in a compound must have a large size to accommodate more than eight electrons. However, boron in the BCl3 structure is of very small size and hence does not follow this rule. In order to achieve octet stability, the central boron atom in the BCl3 lewis structure shares 3 electrons with three chlorine atoms by a single covalent bond.
Is the boron in the BCl3 lewis structure an acid or base?
According to the lewis acid-base concept, a reaction is said to be a lewis acidic when there are more ions in the solution than before the reaction started. In the case of the BCl3 lewis structure, there is a high number of ions in the solution before and after the reaction starts.
Does the boron in BCl3 lewis structure accept hydrogen ions?
Unlike the aluminium in the AlCl3 structure which is an acidic species, the boron in the BCl3lewis structure is not an acidic substance. The reason for this is that the boron in the BCl3lewisstructure has much more electronegativity than the aluminium.