Bromine trifluoride

Bromine trifluoride is a highly toxic and corrosive fluoride of bromine with chemical formula BrF₃. It was discovered by Paul Lebeau in 1906.^[1] It occurs as a colorless, yellow, or gray fuming liquid with an irritating odor. It is soluble in sulfuric acid but may explode on contact with water.

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Synthesis

Bromine trifluoride can be obtained by the reaction of bromine with fluorine at 20 °C.

Br₂ + 3F₂ → 2BrF₃

The disproportionation of bromine monofluoride is also a source for bromine trifluoride.

3BrF → BrF₃ + Br₂^[2]

Structure

Like ClF₃ and IF₃ the BrF₃ molecule is T-shaped. With the two electron pairs the coordination number is 5. The distance from the bromine each axial fluorine is 1.81 Å and to the equatorial fluorine is 1.72 Å. The angle between an axial fluorine and the equatorial fluorine is slightly smaller than 90° — the 86.2° angle observed is due to the replusion generated by the electron pairs being greater than that of the Br-F bonds.^[3][4]

References