Question

Boron does not form $B^{3+}$ ion because

• A. it has small size and high ionization energy
• B. it has high electronegativity
• C. it has high charge density (charge/radius ratio)
• D. none of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The total energy to produce a $B^{3+}$ ion (or the sum of the first three ionization energies) is too large to be compensated by lattice energies (in case of solids) or by hydration energies (in aqueous solution).