Properties of Group 13 Elements

Group 13 Elements (the Boron group) ns2p1

General comments:

boron (metalloid); aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium (metallic) Common oxidation states: B Al Ga In Tl +3 +3 +3 (common), +1 Inert pair effect +1 (common), +3 +1

Occurrence: B - Na2[B4O5(OH)4] @ 8H2O (borax) Al - bauxite (Al2O3) Ga - by product of aluminum refining (1/5000 Ga:Al in bauxite) In - byproduct of Pb refining Tl - byproduct of Pb refining

Preparation: B2O3(s) + 3MS(s) 6 2B(s) + 3MgO(s) 2BCl3 + 3Zn 6 2B + 3ZnCl2 (95-98% pure)

electrolysis 2Al2O3 % 3C x x x x x x x x x v 4Al % 3CO2 (Hall process) Na3AlF6 (crysolite)

Reactions with O2: 4M + 3O2 6 2M2O3 (M = B, Al, Ga, In) 4 Tl + O2 6 2Tl2O

Boron and Metal Borides

Boron Allotropes

MB6

MB12

Some Typical Boron Hydrides

Application of Aluminum Alloys

as anhydrides: B2O3, acidic

xv

Al2O3, Ga2O3, In2O3, amphoteric

Tl2O basic

B2O3 + 3H2O

2B(OH)3

boric acid

Tl2O + H2O Note: impurities

"-Al2O3

xv

2TlOH

xv

2Tl+ + 2OH-

as basic as NaOH !!

- corundum (Cr3+, Ti3+) - emerald (Cr3+) - red ruby (Fe2+, Fe3+, Ti4+) - blue sapphire (Fe3+) - topaz (Cr3+, Ti4+) - violet amethyst

with halogens: 2B + 3X2 2M + 3X2 2Tl + X2

xv

2BX3 M2X6 TlX

(X = F, Cl gas; Br 6 liquid, I - solid) (M = Al, Ga, In)

xv

xv

good Lewis acids

G BCl3 + Cl- 6 BCl4

BF3 + CH3Cl 6 (CH+ 3 )BF3Cl

G Al2Cl6 + 2Cl- 6 2AlCl4

ether Al2Cl6 % 8 LiH x x x x x v2 LiAlH4 % 6 LiCl

Hydrides 4BCl3 + 3LiAlH4 6 2B2H6 + 3LiCl + 3AlCl3

M2X6 + 6LiH 6 M2H6 + 6LiX

(M = Al, Ga)

Higher boron hydrides MgB2 + HCl

xxv

B4H10, B5H9, B5H11, B6H10, B10H14

volatile hydrides, pyrophoric

cluster compounds - electron deficient bonding! B2H6 + 3O2 6 B2O3 + 3H2O highly exothermic!

Applications Boron - control rods and neutron shields (10B) (boron and metal borides)
1 0

n +

10 5

4 B 6 7 3Li + 2He

non-radioactive chemical inertness important metal borides - hard, high-melting, nonvolatile, and chemically inert; uses include turbine blades, rocket nozzles, polishing and grinding grits, brake and clutch linings borax (Na2[B4O5(OH)4] @ 8H2O - detergent boric acid (B(OH)3) - antiseptic, eye-wash

Aluminum - light-weight, durable, corrosion resistant metal; high thermal and electrical conductivity Drano - removes grease deposits
G 2Al + 6H2O + 2OH- 6 2Al(OH)4 + 3H2

HO NH4Al(SO4)2 @ 12 H2O 2x x v Al(OH)3

alum (purificant of water)

reducing agent:

2Al + Fe2O3 6 Al2O3 + 2Fe

(thermite)

gallium - gallium arsenide (GaAs) - semiconductor; LED's; cellular phones indium - soft metal, good thermal conductivity; glass manufacture thallium - rodent poison (Tl2SO4)