Hello Candidate ,

• Structure of Diborane

The structure of Diborane molecule consists of four hydrogen (https://byjus.com/chemistry/hydrogen/) atoms and that of two boron atoms coming on the same plane. In between these planes, there are said to be two dividing atoms of hydrogen.

The boron atom is known to be sp3 hybridized and has four hybrid orbitals. From these four hybrid orbitals, three of the orbitals have one electron each, and of which one is an empty orbital. The two electrons of the hybrid orbitals in each of the boron atoms form 2 bonds with the 1s hydrogen atoms. The two atoms of boron left with that of each unpaired electron orbital and empty orbital forms the two bridgings (B–H–B) bonds with that of the two 1s hydrogen atoms, is also called as the banana bond.

• Preparation of Diborane

The action of a metal hydride with boron produced diborane. This approach is common in the industrial production of diborane.

The reaction of iodine with sodium borohydride in diglyme can also produce diborane in small quantities.

2NaBH ₄ + I2  → B ₂ H ₆ + 2NaI + H ₂

On heating magnesium boride with HCl, a mixture of volatile boranes is obtained.

2Mg ₃ B ₂ + 12HCl → 6MgCl ₂ + B ₄ H ₁₀ + H ₂

B ₄ H ₁₀ + H ₂ → 2B ₂ H ₆

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