Question

Why does diborane not have an ethane-type structure?

Answer 1

Diborane:

1. Diborane has the atomic equation $B_2{H}_6$. It is made up of boron and hydrogen atoms.
2. It has a sweet odor.
3. It is highly unstable at room temperature.

Structure of Diborane:

1. The structure of the Diborane molecule consists of four hydrogen atoms and two boron atoms.
2. They lie on the same plane.
3. In between these planes, there are said to be two dividing atoms of hydrogen.
4. Diborane is not similar to ethane because borane is not isolobal to methyl.
5. That is they are not equivalent in terms of symmetry and with similar electron counts.
6. The elemental carbon has four electrons, while elemental boron has three.