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-   -   Lewis structure (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=565124)

  • Mar 25, 2011, 04:08 AM
    pop000
    Lewis structure
    I need to draw the Lewis structure of KBF4
    But I am not understand how B can be bound to 4 F atoms if it has only 3 Valence electrons?

    In the picture you can see my direction I know is incorrect so I need help how to keep on from here.


    Thanks. http://p1cture.me/images/62002452779010191790.jpg
  • Mar 25, 2011, 06:27 AM
    DrBob1
    Put the single electron on K onto the fluorine atom, making it a fluroide ion.
    How many elecrons does it take to form a bond? Two, righ? Well the F- ion has four pairs, any of which can add to the BF3 molecule to form the BF4- ion. This is a classic Lewis acid/base reaction. Look at this in your textbook.
  • Mar 27, 2011, 03:05 AM
    pop000
    HI. Thank you for answering can you Please tell me if I get closer?
    I Put the single electron on K onto the fluorine atom, making it a fluroide ion.
    http://p1cture.me/images/04550208474310130500.jpg

    Thanks.
  • Mar 27, 2011, 09:25 AM
    Unknown008

    I don't know the exact expectation when teachers ask for the lewis structure (we don't use this term here), but I would do it like this:

    http://p1cture.me/images/08935347002282675440.png

    + is the outermost electron of B
    Black square is the outermost electron of F
    White square is the electron of K.

    [zooming in the link of the image s clearer since I made them in pixels]
  • Mar 27, 2011, 10:08 AM
    pop000
    Comment on Unknown008's post
    OK I will show this picture to my teacher and I will see what she will say.
    Thanks a lot about this answer.
  • Mar 27, 2011, 10:10 AM
    DrBob1
    Unknown008 has given you the correct Lewis dot formula for potassium tetrafluoroborate. There are a couple of comments that can be made to the question and answers. A) in pop000's structure you should show the + charge on the K+ ion and the - charge on BF4-. B) pop000's structure shows the bonding electron pairs as lines -, this is fine but they are most often shown as the usual electron pairs : . Artistic license! I can't see for sure, but it looks like there might be a line as well as a dot; it should be one or the other.
    C) Unknown008 has show the electrons from each source (K. F, BF3) with a differen notation. This is fine, I often do it myself to make sure the students can better visualize the structure, but you can also show all the electrons as dots. Well done by all of you.
  • Mar 27, 2011, 11:28 AM
    pop000
    Comment on DrBob1's post
    COOL thank you :)

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