Britannica AI Icon

boron trifluoride

chemical compound

Quick Summary

Boron trifluoride (BF3) is a colorless, pungent gas that fumes in moist air. It is typically produced by reacting a boron compound with a fluoride and then sulfuric acid.1

Boron trifluoride is primarily used as an acidic catalyst in organic reactions, such as alkylations and polymerizations. It is also a component in the creation of fluoboric acid (HBF4), a strong acid used in electroplating baths. Boron itself is a semimetal essential for plant growth and has various industrial applications.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. boron trifluoride
  2. boron
  3. fluoboric acid

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.