Which of the following statements is not correct about diborane?
- 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.
Answer
(4) Both the boron atoms are sp2 hybridised.
Solution
As per NCERT, in diborane (B2H6) the four terminal hydrogen atoms and the two boron atoms lie in one plane — (3) is correct.
⇒ The four terminal B–H bonds are regular two centre–two electron bonds — (2) is correct.
⇒ The two bridging B–H–B bonds are three centre–two electron (banana) bonds — (1) is correct.
⇒ Each boron atom uses sp3 hybrid orbitals (tetrahedral arrangement), not sp2.
∴ Statement (4) is not correct.
Answer: (4)