ions and . Because of the high acidity of fluoroboric acid, the fluoroborate ion can be used to isolate particularly electrophilic cations, such as diazonium ions, that are otherwise difficult to isolate as solids. Uses Organic chemistry Boron trifluoride is most importantly used as a reagent in organic synthesis, typically as a Lewis acid. Examples include: initiates polymerisation reactions of unsaturated compounds, such as polyethers as a catalyst in some isomerization, acylation, alkylation, esterification, dehydration, condensation, Mukaiyama aldol addition, and other reactions Niche uses Other, less common uses for boron trifluoride include: applied as dopant in ion implantation p-type dopant for epitaxially grown silicon used in sensitive neutron detectors in ionization chambers and devices to monitor radiation levels in the Earth's atmosphere in fumigation as a flux for soldering magnesium to prepare diborane Discovery Boron trifluoride was discovered in 1808 by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thénard, who were trying to isolate "fluoric acid" (i.e., hydrofluoric acid) by combining calcium fluoride with vitrified boric acid. The resulting vapours failed to etch glass, so they named it fluoboric gas. See also List of highly toxic gases References External links Fluorides Boron compounds Boron halides Industrial gases Acid catalysts