Question

What happens when ${\mathrm{BF}}_3$ is reacted with ammonia?

Answer 1

Lewis acid and base

• Any species that can take a pair of electrons is called a Lewis acid.
• Example: ${\mathrm{BF}}_3$ (Boron Trifluoride)
• Any species that can give a pair of electrons is a Lewis base.
• Example: Ammonia

${\mathbf{BF}}_{\mathbf{3}}$ reacts with ammonia

• ${\mathrm{BF}}_3$ (boron trifluoride) is a Lewis acid.
• It forms an adduct when it reacts with the Lewis base ammonia $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$.
• This causes ${\mathrm{BF}}_3$ to have a complete octet of Boron.

Balanced chemical reaction

• The balanced chemical equation is as follows:

${\mathrm{BF}}_3+{\mathrm{NH}}_3\to \left[{\mathrm{BF}}_3\leftarrow :{\mathrm{NH}}_3\right]$