Bromine trifluoride

Bromine trifluoride is a highly toxic and corrosive fluoride of bromine with chemical formula BrF3. It was discovered by Paul Lebeau in 1906. It occurs as a colorless, yellow, or gray fuming liquid with an irritating odor. It is soluble in sulfuric acid but may explode on contact with water.

Synthesis
Bromine trifluoride can be obtained by the reaction of bromine with fluorine at 20 °C.


 * Br2 + 3F2 → 2BrF3

The disproportionation of bromine monofluoride is also a source for bromine trifluoride.


 * 3BrF → BrF3 + Br2

Structure


Like ClF3 and IF3 the BrF3 molecule is T-shaped. With the two electron pairs the coordination number is 5. The distance from the bromine each axial fluorine is 1.81 Å and to the equatorial fluorine is 1.72 Å. The angle between an axial fluorine and the equatorial fluorine is slightly smaller than 90° — the 86.2° angle observed is due to the replusion generated by the electron pairs being greater than that of the Br-F bonds.