NCERT Class XI Chemistry The p-Block Elements Solutions

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Question : 19
Total: 38
Explain structures of diborane and boric acid.
Solution:  
Diborane :

The four terminal hydrogen atoms and the two boron atoms lie in one plane. Above and below this plane, there are two bridging hydrogen atoms. The four terminal B – H bonds are regular two centre-two electron bonds (2c – 2e) while the two bridge (B – H – B) bonds are different and can be described in terms of three centre-two electron bonds (3c – 2e).

Each B atom uses sp3 hybrids for bonding. Out of the four sp3 hybrids on each B atom, one is without an electron shown in broken lines. The terminal B-H bonds are normal 2-centre-2-electron bonds but the two bridge bonds are 3-centre-2-electron bonds. The 3-centre-2-electron bridge bonds are also referred to as banana bonds.
Boric acid : In boric acid, planar BO3 units are joined by hydrogen bonds to give a layered structure.
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