BRAINCAKEThree and Four Electron Pairs
Boron and aluminium have six electrons in the outermost shell in BF3 and AlCl3. As a result of the electron pair repulsion theory, the shape of the molecules is trigonal planar (flat) with a bond angle of 120° between the B-F and the Al-Cl bonds.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Electron shell
- A main energy level occupied by electrons, given a principal quantum number n, with n = 1 closest to and lowest in energy relative to the nucleus.
- Electron pair repulsion theory
- The theory that electron pairs around a central atom arrange themselves as far apart as possible to minimise repulsion, determining the shape of a molecule or ion.
More in Shapes and Intermolecular Forces
- Electron Pair Repulsion Theory
- BF3 and SF6 and PCl5
- Polyatomic ions.
- More examples.
- Electronegativity
- Bond Polarity
- Polar Solvents and Solubility
- Induced Dipole-Dipole Interactions (London Forces)
All 13 lessons in Shapes and Intermolecular Forces · All OCR AS-level Chemistry topics