Answer: (3) The difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen is greater than that between fluorine and oxygen.
Explanation: Polarity of a molecule is due to the difference in electronegativity of the atoms. More is the electronegativity difference, more is the polarity.
Electronegativity of carbon = 2.5
Electronegativity of oxygen = 3.5
Electronegativity of fluorine = 4.0
Thus the difference in electronegativity of carbon and oxygen is=(3.5-2.5)= 1.0
Thus the difference in electronegativity of fluorine and oxygen is=(4.0-3.5)= 0.5.
Thus C-O bond is more polar than F-O bond.
Zeff = Z - S
Here, Z is the number of protons in the nucleus, that is, atomic number, and S is the number of nonvalence electrons.
For boron, the electronic configuration is 1s₂ 2s₂ 2p₄
Z = 5, S = 2
Zeff = 5-2 = +3
For O, electronic configuration is 1s₂ 2s₂ 2p₄
Z = 8, S = 2
Zeff = 8-2 = +6
Hence, the correct answer is second option, that is, +3 and +6, the Zeff of boron is smaller in comparison to O, thus, boron exhibits a bigger size than O.