Question

Give an example of an electron-deficient hydride.

Answer 1

• Diborane (${\mathrm{B}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$) is an example of an electron-deficient hydride.
• These hydrides do not have a sufficient number of electrons to form normal covalent bonds.

Electron deficient hydrides

The compounds in which the central atom has an incomplete octet are called electron-deficient hydrides.

• These types of compounds are normally formed by group 13 elements.
• The central atom cannot fulfil the octet rule.

Example

Examples are ${\mathrm{BH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{AlH}}_3$. These compounds generally exist in polymeric forms like ${\mathrm{B}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$, ${\mathrm{B}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}$ etc.