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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
The order of acidic strength of boron trihalides
Chemistryp Block Elements (Group 13 & 14)BITSATBITSAT 2019
Options:
  • A BF3<BCl3<BBr3<BI3
  • B BI3<BBr3<BCl3<BF3
  • C BCl3<BBr3<BI3<BF3
  • D BBr3<BCl3<BF3<BI3
Solution:
2652 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: BF3<BCl3<BBr3<BI3

The strength of acidic character of boron trihalides depends upon - back bonding.

In boron trihalides, - -back bonding occurs due to empty orbital of boron and filled orbitals of halogens.

The - back bonding is shown maximum by BF3, as the size of B and F are small and comparatively same. Due to this effect tendency of accepting lone-pair of electrons of boron decreases as size of halogen increases. The order of size of halogens are F<Cl<Br<I. Thus, acidic nature is in order

BF3<BCl3<BBr3<BI3

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