Question

Boric acid $\left(H_{3}B{O}_3\right)$ is:

• A. tribasic
• B. dibasic
• C. monobasic
• D. aprotic

Answer 1

Answer: (C), (D)

aprotic
monobasic

Protic acid is an acid that can undergo ionization and produce hydrogen ions/protons. However, aprotic acids do not produce any hydrogen ions/protons.

Although Boric acid contains 3 OH groups yet it can act as $\text{monobasic acid}$ rather than tribasic acid. This is because boric acid does not act as a proton donor rather it accepts a pair of electrons from $O{H}^{-}$ ions.

It does not donate $H^{+}$ rather it accepts an electron pair from the solution or the donor i.e. $O{H}^{-}$.

Thus, Boric acid is an aprotic acid (like lewis acid) and monobasic acid.

Hence, the correct answer should be option (C) and option (D).