Question

Boron compounds behave as Lewis acids because of their ______.

Options

• Acidic nature

• Covalent nature

• Electron deficient character

• Ionising property

Answer 1

Boron compounds behave as Lewis acids because of their Electron deficient character.

Explanation:

Boron compounds have a Lewis acid character because the valence shell electron count in the Boron group is three. As a result, its octet is incomplete.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{F - B - F}\\
|\\
\ce{\underset{[6e^-]}{F}}
\end{array}\]

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{Cl - Al - Cl}\\
|\phantom{.}\\
\ce{\underset{incomplete octet}{\underset{[6e^-]}{Cl}}}
\end{array}\]