11.19. Explain structures of diborane and boric acid.
Diborane-
The four terminal H atom and Boron lie in the same plane but two bridge H atom is below the plane. The four terminal B-H bonds are regular two centre-two electron bonds. The two (B-H-B) bonds are known as banana bonds(3-centre-2-electron bonds).
Boric acid-
It is a weak monobasic acid. It is Lewis acid, not protic acid. It has a layered structure, the molecule is linked by hydrogen-bonding with another molecule. The dotted line represents H-bonding.