Question

Give an example of an element that forms an electron-deficient compound.

Answer 1

Electron-deficient compound:-

• The compound having an insufficient number of electrons to complete the octet of the central atom is termed an electron-deficient compound.
• Boron has 3 electrons in its valence shell.
• Because of its small size, it prefers sharing electrons, rather than donating them, to maintain the stability of the compound.
• So it forms 6 electrons bond rather than 8 electrons bond.
• For example, In the diborane structure, each boron bonds with four hydrogen atoms however Boron's valency is three so each Boron gives three valence electrons but for the fourth bond, there is no electron from the boron side which makes it electron deficient.
• So ${\mathrm{B}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6,{\mathrm{BCl}}_3,$ and ${\mathrm{BF}}_3$ are examples of the compounds which boron forms

Hence, boron(B) forms electron-deficient compounds.