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Boron trichloride

Boron trichloride

Last updated: March 19, 2023

Boron trichloride is an inorganic compound with formula BCl₃.

Table of contents

Names

List of substance names

Nomenclature

Name

Typical name: Boron trichloride

Compositional nomenclature: Boron trichloride; Boron chloride

Substitutive nomenclature: Trichloroborane

Additive nomenclature: Trichloridoboron

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Formula name

Formula

Typical formula: BCl₃

Molecular formula: BCl₃

Compositional formula: BCl₃

Structural formula

Lewis structure

Colored Lewis structure

Properties

List of substance properties

Item

Value

Name: Boron trichloride

Formula: BCl₃

Appearance: Colorless gas

Odor: Pungent odor

Molar mass: 117.16 g/mol

Density: 5.141 g/L^[1]
Gas; 4.789 g/L^[2]
Gas, 25°C

Melting point: −107 °C^[1]; −107.3 °C^[2]

Boiling point: 12.7 °C^[1]; 12.5 °C^[2]

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Atom	Name	Oxidation state	Number
B	Boron	+3	1
Cl	Chlorine	−1	3

Ratio of atoms

Atom	Atomic weight	Number	Atomic ratio	Weight ratio
B	10.81	1	25.00%	9.23%
Cl	35.45	3	75.00%	90.77%

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Item

Value

Enthalpy of fusion: 2.10 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1][2]
at −107°C

Enthalpy of vaporization: 23.8 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1]
at 12.7°C; 23.77 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]
at 12.5°C

Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C: 23.1 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1][2]

Enthalpy of other transition: –

Standard thermodynamic properties

State	Standard enthalpy of formation Δ_fH° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard Gibbs energy of formation Δ_fG° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar entropy S° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar heat capacity at constant pressure C_p° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹
Crystalline solid	–	–	–	–
Liquid	−427.2^[3]	−387.4^[3]	206.3^[3]	106.7^[3]
Gas	−403.76^[3]	−388.72^[3]	290.10^[3]	62.72^[3]

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Reactive: H₂O^[1]Water
C₂H₅OH^[1]Ethanol

Miscible

Very soluble

Soluble

Slightly soluble

Very slightly soluble

Insoluble

Hazards

GHS label^[4]

Item

Value

Hazard pictograms: GHS04: Gas cylinder; GHS06: Skull and crossbones; GHS05: Corrosion; GHS08: Health hazard

Signal word: Danger

Hazard statements: H280: Contains gas under pressure may explode if heated; H331: Toxic if inhaled; H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; H318: Causes serious eye damage; H371: May cause damage to organs; H371: May cause damage to respiratory system

Physical hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Explosives	Not applicable
Flammable gases	Not classified
Aerosols	Not applicable
Oxidizing gases	Not classified
Gases under pressure	Liquefied gas	Warning	H280: Contains gas under pressure may explode if heated
Flammable liquids	Not applicable
Flammable solids	Not applicable
Self reactive substances and mixtures	Not applicable
Pyrophoric liquids	Not applicable
Pyrophoric solids	Not applicable
Self heating substances and mixtures	Not applicable
Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases	Not applicable
Oxidizing liquids	Not applicable
Oxidizing solids	Not applicable
Organic peroxides	Not applicable
Substances and mixtures corrosive to metals	Classification not possible
Desensitized explosives	No data

Health hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Acute oral toxicity	Classification not possible
Acute dermal toxicity	Classification not possible
Acute inhalation toxicity by gas	Category 3	Danger	H331: Toxic if inhaled
Acute inhalation toxicity by vapor	Not applicable
Acute inhalation toxicity by dust or mist	Not applicable
Skin corrosion irritation	Category 1	Danger	H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Serious eye damage eye irritation	Category 1	Danger	H318: Causes serious eye damage
Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible
Skin sensitization	Classification not possible
Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible
Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible
Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible
Specific target organ toxicity single exposure	Category 2 (Respiratory system)	Warning	H371: May cause damage to organs H371: May cause damage to respiratory system
Specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure	Classification not possible
Aspiration hazard	Not applicable

Environmental hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Hazardous to the aquatic environment short term	Classification not possible
Hazardous to the aquatic environment long term	Classification not possible
Hazardous to the ozone layer	No data

Preparations

Reaction of nonmetal and nonmetal

The reaction of boron and chlorine yields boron trichloride.

Reaction of boron and chlorine ◆ Δ_rG −777.44 kJ/mol K 1.59 × 10¹³⁶ pK −136.20: 2BBoron + 3Cl₂Chlorine
⟶
2BCl₃Boron trichloride

Chemical reactions

Reaction with reducing species

The reaction of reducing species and boron trichloride yields a variety of products.

Reaction of sodium and boron trichloride ◆ Δ_rG −763.69 kJ/mol K 6.20 × 10¹³³ pK −133.79: 3NaSodium + BCl₃Boron trichloride
⟶
3NaClSodium chloride + BBoron

Reaction of hydrogen and boron trichloride ◆ Δ_rG 292.3 kJ/mol K 0.62 × 10⁻⁵¹ pK 51.21: 6H₂Hydrogen + 2BCl₃Boron trichloride
🔥
⟶
B₂H₆Diborane(6) + 6HClHydrogen chloride

Reaction of hydrogen sulfide and boron trichloride ◆ Δ_rG 493.7 kJ/mol K 0.32 × 10⁻⁸⁶ pK 86.49: 6H₂SHydrogen sulfide + 2BCl₃Boron trichloride
🔥
⟶
6SSulfur + B₂H₆Diborane(6) + 6HClHydrogen chloride

Reaction with oxidizing species

The reaction of boron trichloride and oxidizing species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of boron trichloride and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −832.42 kJ/mol K 6.82 × 10¹⁴⁵ pK −145.83: 4BCl₃Boron trichloride + 3O₂Oxygen
⟶
2B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 6Cl₂Chlorine

Reaction of boron trichloride and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −122.5 kJ/mol K 2.89 × 10²¹ pK −21.46: 2BCl₃Boron trichloride + 3O₂Oxygen
⟶
B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 3Cl₂ODichlorine monoxide

Reaction of boron trichloride and nitric acid ◆ Δ_rG −335.48 kJ/mol K 5.94 × 10⁵⁸ pK −58.77: 2BCl₃Boron trichloride + 6HNO₃Nitric acid
⟶
B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 3Cl₂Chlorine + 6NO₂Nitrogen dioxide + 3H₂OWater

Reaction of boron trichloride and nitric acid ◆ Δ_rG −318.82 kJ/mol K 7.16 × 10⁵⁵ pK −55.85: 2BCl₃Boron trichloride + 2HNO₃Nitric acid
⟶
B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 3Cl₂Chlorine + 2NONitrogen monoxide + H₂OWater

Reaction of boron trichloride and potassium permanganate ◆ Δ_rG −2484.9 kJ/mol K 2.17 × 10⁴³⁵ pK −435.34: 8BCl₃Boron trichloride + 6KMnO₄Potassium permanganate
⟶
4B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 9Cl₂Chlorine + 6MnO₂Manganese(IV) oxide + 6KClPotassium chloride

Reaction with oxidizing species under acidic condition

The reaction of boron trichloride, oxidizing species, and hydrogen ion yields a variety of products.

Reaction of boron trichloride and potassium permanganate under acidic condition: 10BCl₃Boron trichloride + 6KMnO₄Potassium permanganate + 18H⁺Hydrogen ion
⟶
5B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 15Cl₂Chlorine + 6Mn²⁺Manganese(II) ion + 6K⁺Potassium ion + 9H₂OWater

Reaction of boron trichloride and potassium permanganate under acidic condition: 4BCl₃Boron trichloride + 3KMnO₄Potassium permanganate + 12H⁺Hydrogen ion
⟶
2B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 6Cl₂Chlorine + 3Mn³⁺Manganese(III) ion + 3K⁺Potassium ion + 6H₂OWater

Reaction with oxidizing species under neutral condition

The reaction of boron trichloride, oxidizing species, and water yields a variety of products.

Reaction of boron trichloride and oxygen under neutral condition: 2BCl₃Boron trichloride + 12O₂Oxygen + 3H₂OWater
⟶
B₂O₃Diboron trioxide + 6HClO₄Perchloric acid

Reaction of boron trichloride and oxygen under neutral condition: BCl₃Boron trichloride + 6O₂Oxygen + 3H₂OWater
⟶
H₃BO₃Boric acid + 3HClO₄Perchloric acid

Reaction of boron trichloride and potassium permanganate under neutral condition: 4BCl₃Boron trichloride + 96KMnO₄Potassium permanganate + 137H₂OWater
⟶
K₂B₄O₇Potassium tetraborate + 12KClO₄Potassium perchlorate + 96H₂MnO₄Manganic acid + 82KOHPotassium hydroxide

Reaction of boron trichloride and potassium permanganate under neutral condition: 4BCl₃Boron trichloride + 72KMnO₄Potassium permanganate + 101H₂OWater
⟶
K₂B₄O₇Potassium tetraborate + 12KClO₃Potassium chlorate + 72H₂MnO₄Manganic acid + 58KOHPotassium hydroxide

References

List of references

1
James G. Speight (2017)
Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 17th edition
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781259586095
McGraw Hill Education
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 5.141 g/L - p.35
- ^ Melting point, −107 °C - p.35
- ^ Boiling point, 12.7 °C - p.35
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 2.10 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.298
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization, 23.8 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.298
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C, 23.1 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.298
- ^ Qualitative solubility, Reactive with water - p.35
- ^ Qualitative solubility, Reactive with ethanol - p.35
2
John R. Rumble Jr, David R. Lide, Thomas J. Bruno (2019)
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 100th Edition
https://www.routledge.com/CRC-Handbook-of-Chemistry-and-Physics/book-series/CRCHANCHEPHY
CRC Press
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 4.789 g/L - p.4-43
- ^ Melting point, −107.3 °C - p.4-43
- ^ Boiling point, 12.5 °C - p.4-43
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 2.10 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-154
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization, 23.77 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-138
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C, 23.1 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-138
3
Janiel J. Reed (1989)
The NBS Tables of Chemical Thermodynamic Properties: Selected Values for Inorganic and C1 and C2 Organic Substances in SI Units
https://doi.org/10.18434/M32124
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Citation list
4
Chemical Management Center
GHS Classification Results
https://www.nite.go.jp/chem/english/ghs/all_fy_e.html
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Citation list

Δ_rG	−777.44 kJ/mol
K	1.59 × 10¹³⁶
pK	−136.20

Δ_rG	−763.69 kJ/mol
K	6.20 × 10¹³³
pK	−133.79

Δ_rG	292.3 kJ/mol
K	0.62 × 10⁻⁵¹
pK	51.21

Δ_rG	493.7 kJ/mol
K	0.32 × 10⁻⁸⁶
pK	86.49

Boron trichloride

Names

List of substance names

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Properties

List of substance properties

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Ratio of atoms

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Standard thermodynamic properties

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Hazards

GHS label[4]

Physical hazards[4]

Health hazards[4]

Environmental hazards[4]

Preparations

Reaction of nonmetal and nonmetal

Chemical reactions

Reaction with reducing species

Reaction with oxidizing species

Reaction with oxidizing species under acidic condition

Reaction with oxidizing species under neutral condition

References

List of references

Related substances

Chloride

Related categories

GHS label^[4]

Physical hazards^[4]

Health hazards^[4]

Environmental hazards^[4]