Question

Explain structures of diborane and boric acid.

Answer 1

Diborane

1. Diborane is a chemical compound that consists of boron and hydrogen atoms and has a molecular formula ${\mathrm{B}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$.
2. Structure of diborane:
3. The boron atoms has four hybrid orbitals and is considered to be ${\mathrm{sp}}^3$ hybridized.
4. Three of the orbitals from these four hybrid orbitals have one electron each, and each one of them is an empty orbital.
5. The two electrons of the hybrid orbitals in each of the boron atoms form 2 bonds with the 1s hydrogen atoms.

Boric acid

1. Boric acid is a monobasic Lewis acid of boron with a chemical formula ${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{BO}}_3$.
2. It is an acid containing four atoms of oxygen, one atom of boron, and three atoms of Hydrogen.
3. Structure of boric acid:
4. Boric acid is formed in layers, the planar ${\mathrm{BO}}_3$ group is connected by H atoms to another unit.
5. The H atoms form a covalent bond with the ${\mathrm{BO}}_3$ group and a Hydrogen bond with another ${\mathrm{BO}}_3$ unit.
6. Structure:

Therefore, Diborane has the chemical formula ${\mathrm{B}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$ whereas Boric acid has the chemical formula ${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{BO}}_3$.