Question

In the reaction of elemental boron with fluorine at high temperatures, what is the balanced equation?

a. B + F → BF
b. B + F2 → BF3
c. B2 + F2 → BF3
d. B2F4 → B + F2

Answer 1

The balanced equation for the reaction of elemental boron with fluorine to form boron trifluoride at high temperatures is 2 B + 3 F2 → 2 BF3.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the reaction of elemental boron (B) with fluorine (F2) at high temperatures, the correct balanced chemical equation is 2 B + 3 F2 → 2 BF3. Elemental boron reacts with fluorine to form boron trifluoride (BF3), with boron having three valence electrons and each fluorine having seven.

Three fluorine molecules provide enough electrons to share with two atoms of boron, resulting in each boron atom forming three covalent bonds with three fluorine atoms, thereby creating two molecules of boron trifluoride.