Covalent and Ionic Molecules: Why Are BeF2 and AlF3 High Melting Point Solids whereas BF3 and SiF4 Are Gases?

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Abstract

Calculated ionic charges show that BF3 and SiF4 are predominately ionic molecules yet in contrast to BeF2 and AlF3 they exist as gases at room temperature and form molecular solids rather than infinite three-dimensional "ionic" solids at low temperature. Whether or not ionic molecules form a three-dimensional infinite ionic lattice or a molecular solid depends more on relative atomic (ionic) sizes than on the nature of the bonding in the isolated molecule. The ionic model for BF3 and BF4- provides a simple explanation of their bond lengths and for the constancy of interligand nonbonding distances. BF3 and SiF4 should be represented by ionic structures rather than by the conventional structures with bond lines that are normally assumed to indicate covalent bonds.

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