MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 13 / 175
Is BrF3 polar or nonpolar?
BrF3 is polar because its T-shaped arrangement leaves the Br–F bond dipoles unbalanced.
Bromine Trifluoride · t-shaped
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDIllustrative geometry. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why BrF3 is polar
Bromine trifluoride has a T-shaped geometry with two lone pairs on bromine occupying equatorial positions. The three fluorine atoms are arranged asymmetrically (two axial, one equatorial), and fluorine (3.98) is much more electronegative than bromine (2.96).
What to notice
A T shape has two opposing axial bonds and one remaining equatorial bond. That last direction prevents complete cancellation.
Common questions about BrF3
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of BrF3 show?
Br forms three single Br–F bonds and has two lone pairs. Each F has three lone pairs; the two lone pairs on Br help produce the T shape.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of BrF3?
BrF3 has a t-shaped molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 180° and 90°. These are angles in the illustrative model, not experimental measurements.
- 03
What is the molar mass of BrF3?
BrF3 has an approximate molar mass of 136.90 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.