What are electron deficient compounds ? Are BCl3 and SiCl4 electron deficient species? Explain.


The species, which have less than electrons in the valence shell or the species, which have valence electrons, but has empty orbitals, so that the covalency can be spread beyond , are called as electron deficient species. is electron deficient compound because boron has only valence electron and is short of electrons. Therefore it can accept a pair of electrons from nucleophiles. is not electron deficient compound because silicon has valence electrons. It cannot spread its covalency beyond because silicon doesn’t have d- orbitals.
Final Answer:
The species, which have less than electrons in the valence shell or the species, which have valence electrons, but has empty orbitals, so that the covalency can be spread beyond , are called as electron deficient species. is electron deficient compound because boron has only valence electron and is short of electrons. Therefore it can accept a pair of electrons from nucleophiles. is not electron deficient compound because silicon has valence electrons. It cannot spread its covalency beyond because silicon doesn’t have d- orbitals.