The reaction between ammonia and boron trifluoride, BF3
If you have recently read the page on covalent bonding, you may remember boron trifluoride as a compound which doesn't have a noble gas structure around the boron atom. The boron only has 3 pairs of electrons in its bonding level, whereas there would be room for 4 pairs. BF3 is described as being electron deficient.
The lone pair on the nitrogen of an ammonia molecule can be used to overcome that deficiency, and a compound is formed involving a co-ordinate bond.
Using lines to represent the bonds, this could be drawn more simply as:
The second diagram shows another way that you might find co-ordinate bonds drawn. The nitrogen end of the bond has become positive because the electron pair has moved away from the nitrogen towards the boron - which has therefore become negative. We shan't use this method again - it's more confusing than just using an arrow.
The chemical equation is:2 NF3--------- ----------------->N2 + 3 F2
2NF3 --> N2 + 3F2
Formula: BrF3
Decomposition equation:2 NF3 ----> N2 + 3 F2
We see the chemical reaction but we write the chemical equation.
The chemical equation is:2 NF3--------- ----------------->N2 + 3 F2
The chemical equation is:2 NF3--------- ----------------->N2 + 3 F2
2NF3 --> N2 + 3F2
2NF3 --> N2 + 3F2
Formula: BrF3
The chemical equation is:2 NF3 + 3 H2 = N2 + 6 HF
Decomposition equation:2 NF3 ----> N2 + 3 F2
A chemical equation is a shorthand description of a chemical reaction.
A chemical reaction can be represented by a chemical equation.
We see the chemical reaction but we write the chemical equation.
A chemical reaction is represented by a chemical equation.
The written statement that shows a chemical reaction is called an "equation". The representation of each reactant is called its chemical formula.