Question:

Which of the following statement is not correct about diborane?

Updated On: May 2, 2025

There are two 3-centre-2-electron bonds.
The four terminal B-H bonds are two centre two electron bonds.
The four terminal Hydrogen atoms and the two Boron atoms lie in one plane.
Both the Boron atoms are sp₂ hybridised.

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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Diborane (B₂H₆) is an interesting compound due to its unique bonding structure which requires an understanding of molecular orbitals and hybridization.

1. 3-Centre-2-Electron Bonds: Diborane contains two bridge bonds, also known as 3-centre-2-electron (3c-2e) bonds. Each bridge bond connects one hydrogen atom with two boron atoms, involving three atoms sharing two electrons.

2. 2-Centre-2-Electron Bonds: The four terminal B-H bonds are regular covalent bonds (2-centre-2-electron bonds), which involve two electrons sharing between each boron and its respective hydrogen atom.

3. Planar Structure: In diborane, the four terminal hydrogen atoms and the two boron atoms lie in the same plane. This planar arrangement is due to the necessity to minimize electron pair repulsion.

4. Hybridization: In diborane, each boron atom is actually sp³ hybridized, not sp². The misconception that boron is sp² hybridized does not account for the presence of the bridge hydrogens forming the 3c-2e bonds.

Given this analysis, the incorrect statement regarding diborane is: The boron atoms are not sp² hybridized.

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Concepts Used:

Structure of Atom

Atomic Structure:

The atomic structure of an element refers to the constitution of its nucleus and the arrangement of the electrons around it. Primarily, the atomic structure of matter is made up of protons, electrons and neutrons.

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Dalton proposed that every matter is composed of atoms that are indivisible and indestructible.

The following are the postulates of his theory:

Every matter is made up of atoms.
Atoms are indivisible.
Specific elements have only one type of atoms in them.
Each atom has its own constant mass that varies from element to element.
Atoms undergo rearrangement during a chemical reaction.
Atoms can neither be created nor be destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another.

Cons of Dalton’s Atomic Theory

The theory was unable to explain the existence of isotopes.
Nothing about the structure of atom was appropriately explained.
Later, the scientists discovered particles inside the atom that proved, the atoms are divisible.

Subatomic Particles

Protons - are positively charged subatomic particles.
Electron - are negatively charged subatomic particles.
Neutrons - are electrically neutral particles and carry no charge

Atomic Structure of Isotopes

Several atomic structures of an element can exist, which differ in the total number of nucleons.These variants of elements having a different nucleon number (also known as the mass number) are called isotopes of the element. Therefore, the isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons. For example, there exist three known naturally occurring isotopes of hydrogen, namely, protium, deuterium, and tritium.