Boron trifluoride (BF3)

Electron-deficient trigonal planarity; classic intro to π back-donation in Lewis acid/base pairing. Teaching note: figures illustrate qualitative electronic structure; quantitative benchmarking should use larger bases, dispersion, and experimental structures.

Geometry
Trigonal planar
Polarity
Nonpolar
Bond angle
120°
Hybridisation
sp2
VSEPR
AX3
Bonds
3 B–F σ + π interactions
Molecular orbitals
24 valence MOs; low-lying acceptor levels on B in minimal basis.
SMILES
B(F)(F)F

Electron density: spin-paired GPAW (PBE) on an isolated gas-phase geometry; molecular orbitals: restricted mean-field RHF with sto-3g in PySCF unless noted.

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