Boron Chemistry
Electronic configuration & geometries.
5B has only 3 valence
electrons (1s22s22p1) and so normally in its molecular compounds, boron
will have three covalent bonds in a trigonal planar geometry.
• However, boron may also function as a Lewis acid (electron pair acceptor) in which
case the molecules will have tetrahedral geometries.
eg. BF3 forms 1:1 complexes
with amines,
phosphines, ethers, sulphides:
(C2H5)2O:®BF3