Is boron trichloride ionic or covalent?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether boron trichloride (BCl3) is ionic or covalent. To answer this, we need to consider the type of bonding that occurs between boron and chlorine, which typically involves sharing of electrons rather than a transfer, indicating that it is a covalent compound.

More Information

Boron trichloride forms through sharing electrons between boron and chlorine, both nonmetals, leading to covalent bonding. Covalent compounds typically have lower melting and boiling points compared to ionic compounds.

Tips

A common mistake is to assume that compounds with nonmetals can be ionic. Always check the nature of the elements involved (metal vs. nonmetal).

Sources

• Boron trichloride (BCl3) compound name - homework.study.com
• Is BCl3 ionic or covalent? - Quizgecko - quizgecko.com
• Boron trichloride - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org