The molecular formula for boron, hydrogen, and oxygen that makes up boric acid is H3BO3. It is a Lewis acid monobasic. Other names for boric acid include orthoboric acid, hydrogen borate, and acidum boricum.
The color of boric acid is a white powder. It dissolves fully in water. Borax and hydrochloric acid were combined to create it for the first time by Wilhelm Homberg. A substance of significant medical value called boric acid has a number of beneficial qualities, including antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic.
The boron atom is located in the middle of the boric acid molecule. Three boron-oxygen single bonds between the boron atom and three hydroxyl groups make up the boric acid molecule. Boric acid has a trigonal planar structure.
![boric acid molecule](https://images.collegedunia.com/public/qa/images/content/2023_06_27/Screenshot_683265631687863494667.jpg)
There are three hydroxyl groups in boric acid. The OH bond is polar because of the difference in electronegativity between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. As a result, the hydrogen from one molecule of boric acid creates a hydrogen bond with the oxygen atoms of another molecule of boric acid. A polymeric structure is created by the distinct layers of boric acid molecules. Covalent bonds are created between the hydrogen atoms and the BO3 group of another molecule.