What is a Boron trifluoride (BF₃)?

Boron trifluoride (BF₃) is a colorless gas composed of one boron atom and three fluorine atoms. It has a strong, irritating odor and exists as a gas under standard conditions. BF₃ is known as a strong Lewis acid and is widely used as a catalyst in organic chemistry. It promotes reactions such as alkylation, acylation, and polymerization by accepting electron pairs. For example, in Friedel–Crafts reactions, BF₃ helps introduce alkyl or acyl groups into aromatic compounds. It's also used industrially in the production of plastics, resins, and other synthetic materials. However, BF₃ reacts violently with water to form hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly corrosive and toxic compound. Therefore, it must be stored in tightly sealed containers and handled in dry environments. Inhalation of BF₃ gas can cause severe irritation to the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.

Despite its hazards, boron trifluoride remains an essential compound in both research and industrial applications due to its powerful catalytic properties and high reactivity.

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