Question

The shape of a BF₃ molecule is

a. angular

b. trigonal planar

c. trigonal pyramid

d. tetrahedral

Answer 1

The BF₃ molecule has a trigonal planar shape, with the three fluorine atoms and the boron atom forming an equilateral triangle and lying in the same plane.

Step-by-step explanation:

The shape of a BF₃ molecule is trigonal planar. This geometry arises because the molecule consists of three fluorine atoms positioned at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, with all three fluorine atoms and the central boron atom lying in the same plane. The F-B-F bond angles are 120°, which is characteristic of a trigonal planar shape. This configuration allows the molecule to be highly symmetrical, resulting in the cancellation of the dipoles in three-dimensional space and giving BF₃ a net dipole moment of zero.

Answer 2

The molecule BF3 has a trigonal planar shape, with the fluorine atoms arranged at 120° within the same plane, leading to no net dipole moment. (option B).

Step-by-step explanation:

The shape of a BF₃ molecule is trigonal planar. This is because the molecule consists of three electron groups that orient as far apart as possible, adopting the positions of an equilateral triangle.

The fluorine atoms are positioned at the vertices of this triangle with a F-B-F bond angle of 120°, and all atoms reside in the same plane.

This highly symmetrical shape leads to the molecule having a net dipole moment of zero as the dipoles cancel each other out in three-dimensional space. (option B).