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Question
Describe the general trends in the following properties of the elements in Groups 13 and 14.
Nature of halides
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Solution
Except thallium, All the elements of the boron family combine with three atoms of halogens to form trihalides. All these halides exist as molecular species with hybridisation of sp2. All the trihalides are Lewis acid and their acidic strength of trihalides of boron is in order: Bf3 < BCl3 < BBr3 < Bl3. In group-14, except carbon, all group 14 elements on reaction with halogens form tetra halides where central metal atom shows the sp3 hybridisation state and corresponding tetrahedral shape.
There are few exceptions also, SnF4 and Pf4 are ionic in nature, while the rest are covalent compounds.
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