Question

(a) List the uses of Diborane (${B_2}{H_6}$)
(b) Write the preparation of Diborane.

Answer 1

The chemical compound diborane has the molecular formula ${B_2}{H_6}$ and is made up of boron and hydrogen atoms. This substance has a sweet odour and is highly unstable at room temperature. Boranes are compounds that contain both boron and hydrogen atoms. One of the most basic boron hydrides is diborane. Boron hydrides react readily with air, forming explosive mixtures. At room temperature, this substance will ignite quickly.

Complete answer:
Diborane is also known as boro ethane and diboron hexahydride.
Diborane's Uses and Applications
(a) Diborane is a chemical compound with numerous applications in various fields, some of which are listed below:
-Diborane is used as a propellant in rockets.
-It's used to make borophosphosilicate glass, which is a type of glass.
-It is used as a reducing agent in the majority of chemical reactions.
-In the polymerization reactions, diborane is used as a catalyst and rubber vulcanizer.
-It's even used as a doping agent in semiconductor device manufacturing.
(b) Diborane Preparation
Diborane was created by the reaction of a metal hydride with boron. In the industrial production of diborane, this method is widely used.
In small amounts, the reaction of iodine with sodium borohydride in diglyme can produce diborane.
$2NaB{H_4}\; + {\text{ }}{I_2}{\text{ }} \to {\text{ }}{B_2}{H_6}\;\; + {\text{ }}2NaI{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}{H_2}\;$
A mixture of volatile boranes is formed when magnesium boride is heated with HCl.
$2M{g_3}{B_2}\;\; + {\text{ }}12HCl{\text{ }} \to {\text{ }}6MgC{l_2}\; + {\text{ }}{B_4}{H_{10}}\; + {\text{ }}{H_2}$
${B_4}{H_{10}}\; + {\text{ }}{H_2}\; \to {\text{ }}2{B_2}{H_6}$

Note:
The boron atom has four hybrid orbitals and is known to be $s{p^3}$ hybridised. Three of the four hybrid orbitals have one electron each, with the fourth orbital being an empty orbital. The two hybrid orbital electrons in each boron atom form two bonds with the 1s hydrogen atoms. The banana bond is formed by the two boron atoms left with each unpaired electron orbital and empty orbital forming two bridgings (B–H–B) bonds with the two 1s hydrogen atoms.