Understanding Incomplete Octets and Lewis Structures

What is an incomplete octet?

• An atom with no electrons

• An atom with fewer than eight electrons

• An atom with exactly eight electrons

• An atom with more than eight electrons

Why can't BH3 achieve an octet for boron?

• Boron is too electronegative

• Hydrogen atoms lack lone pairs

• Boron has too many electrons

• Hydrogen atoms are too large

What happens when lone pairs from chlorine are used to complete boron's octet in BCl3?

• Boron becomes positively charged

• Chlorine becomes negatively charged

• Chlorine becomes positively charged

• Boron becomes negatively charged

Why is the structure with an incomplete octet preferred for BCl3?

• It is the only possible structure

• It is the simplest structure

• It has the most stable formal charges

• It is supported by experimental evidence

What does the experimental evidence suggest about the B-Cl bond in BCl3?

• It is shorter than expected

• It does not exist

• It is the same as expected

• It is longer than expected