12th Class Chemistry The p-block Elements-II / p-ब्लॉक तत्व-II Question Bank 11th CBSE Chemistry The P-Block Elements

  • question_answer
    Why \[BB{{r}_{3}}\] is a stronger Lewis acid as compared to \[B{{F}_{3}}\] though fluorine is more electronegative than bromine.

    Answer:

                    The B atom in \[B{{F}_{3}}\] or \[BB{{r}_{3}}\] has only six electrons in its valence shell and hence can accept a pair of electrons to complete its octet. Therefore, both \[B{{F}_{3}}\] and \[BB{{r}_{3}}\] act as Lewis acids. But in \[B{{F}_{3}}\], the sizes of empty 2p-orbital of B and the 2p-orbital of F containing the lone pair of electrons are almost identical and hence effective \[p\pi -p\pi \] bonding occurs. As a result, the lone pair of F is donated to B atom and hence the electron-deficiency of boron decreases. In contrast, in \[BB{{r}_{3}},\] the size of 4p-orbital of Br containing the lone pair of electrons is much bigger than the empty 2p-orbital of B and hence donation of lone pair of electrons of Br to B does not occur to any significant extent. As a result, the electron- deficiency of B is much higher in \[BB{{r}_{3}},\] than that in \[B{{F}_{3}},\] and hence \[BB{{r}_{3}},\] is a stronger Lewis acid than \[B{{F}_{3}}\].


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