The Periodic Table of the Elements

Most Probable Oxidation State

+1 0

H +2 +3 +_4 - 3 -2 -1 He
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Na Mg +3 +4 +5 +1 + 2 Al Si P S Cl Ar
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
Fr Ra Ac Rf Du Sg Bo Ha Me

+3 Ce Pr Nd PmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu
+3 Th Pa U Np Pu AmCmBk Cf Es FmMd No Lr
 Boron:
 In nature it is found as Borates:
 Ulexite : {NaCa[B5O6(OH)6].5 H20}
 Borax : {Na2[B405(OH)4]. 8 H 20}
 Colemanite: {Ca2[B304(OH)3]2.2 H 20)}
 Kernite: {Na2[B4O5(OH)4].2 H20}

 Borates do have complex structures, but

common to all is that Boron is contained as
trigonal BO3 or tetragonal BO4 units.
 The cations in these minerals are typically
alkali or alkaline earth cations.
 The largest source of Boron is in the form of
Borax found in the mojave desert in california
 No ionic compounds involving simple B3+
cations are formed because the ionization
enthalpies for boron are so high that lattice
energies or hydration enthalpies cannot offset
the energy required for formation of a cation.
 Boron is sp2 hybridized in trigonal planes.
 All BX3 planes compounds are strong lewis
acids
 interaction with Lewis bases (molecules or
ions) gives tetrahedral adducts such as
BF3.O(C2H5)2 ,BF4-, and B(C6H5)-4. The
formation of such Lewis acid-base adducts
requires a change to Sp3 hybridization for boron.

 Isolation of the element:
 Boron is made in 95-98% purity as an
amorphous powder by reduction of the oxide
B203 with Mg

 Or Zn
 Borosilicate glass-  Pyrotechnics
pyrex  Used in production of
 Detergents impact resistant steels
 Flame retardants  Control rods in
 Ceramics nuclear reactors
 2c-2e- B-H
 3c-2e- B-H-B
 2c-2e- B-B
 3c-2e- B-B-B
Huheey, J. E.; Keiter, E. A.; Keiter, R. L.
Inorganic Chemistry: principles of
structure and reactivity, 4th ed. New
York: HarperCollins College Publisher,
1993. 790.
Huheey, J. E.; Keiter, E. A.; Keiter, R. L.
Inorganic Chemistry: principles of
structure and reactivity, 4th ed. New
York: HarperCollins College Publisher,
1993. 794.
a- rhombohdral b-rhombohedral,
B12(B12)12, (B12)(B12)(B60)

Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G.

inorganic Chemistry. New York:
Pearson Education Limited, 2001. 251-2.
 Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G.
inorganic Chemistry. New York:
Pearson Education Limited, 2001. 275.
 The structure of Boranes:
 The hydrides of Boron:
 Diborane:

 Lab quantities:

 Industrial Quantities:
 Reactions of Boranes:
 Deca boranes:
 Borohydrides of many metals have been made
and some representative syntheses are:
 Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G.
inorganic Chemistry. New York:
Pearson Education Limited, 2001. 272.
 10B has large cross-section for neutron capture
 10B +  a + 7Li

 Products can kill cells

 Cancer treatment
 Cages - need high [10B] in cell
 The main resemblances to silicon and differences from
the more metallic aluminum are as follows:

 1. The oxide B20 3 and B(OHh are acidic. The

compound Al(OH)3 is a basic hydroxide, although it
shows weak amphoteric properties by dissolving in
strong NaOH.

 2. Borates and silicates are built on similar structural

principles with sharing of oxygen atoms so that
complicated chain, ring, or other structures result .
 3. The halides of Band Si (except BF3) are
readily hydrolyzed. The AI halides are solids
and only partly hydrolyzed by water. All act as
Lewis acids.

 4. The hydrides of B and Si are volatile,

spontaneously flammable, and readily
hydrolyzed. Aluminum hydride is a polymer,
(AlH3)n
 Crystalline boron is very inert and is attacked
only by hot concentrated oxidizing agents.
Amorphous boron is more reactive. With
ammonia for instance, amorphous boron at
white heat gives (BN)x a slippery white solid
with a layer structure resembling that of
graphite, but with hexagonal rings of
alternating B and N atoms.
 Hydrated borates contain polyoxo anions in the
crystal, with the following important structural
features:
1. Both B03 and tetrahedral B04 groups are present, the
number of B04 units being equal to the charge on the
anion.
2. Anions that do not have B04 groups, such as
metaborate, B3063-, or metaboric acid, B303(OH)3,
hydrate rapidly and lose their original structures.
3. Certain discrete as well as chain-polymer borate
anions can be formed by the linking of two or more
rings by shared tetrahedral boron atoms.
 Boric acid:
 The acid B(OH)3 can be obtained as white needles
either from borates, or by hydrolysis of boron
trihalides.
 When heated, boric acid loses water stepwise to
form one of three forms of metaboric acid, HB02. If
B(OH)3 is heated below 130°C, the so-called form-
III is obtained, which has a layer structure in which
B303 rings are joined by hydrogen bonding. On
continued heating of form-III of HB02, between 130
and 150°C, HB02-II is formed.
 Halides:
 Boron trihalide is a gas (bp -101 deg C)
 Boron trihalides are the strongest lewis acids.
 They react with Lewis bases
 B-X bonds are somewhat shorter than is
expected from the sum of the single-bond
covalent radii. This suggests a delocalized π-
bond system
 Al is the most common of the elements
 It is produced in pure form by electrolysis, and
is the most dirty of the industrial processes.
 Costs a lot of energy.
 Main source is Bauxite, a hydrous Al –oxide
 Al is attacked by diluted acids, but passivated
by strong acids.
 Al oxides are used to protect metals (anodized)
 They are made from their salts by electrolysis.
 Ga is used mainly in semiconductors with
Group V elements. (GaAs).
 Tl is a trace element and is very toxic.
 Main use to get rid of spies.
 Al has only one oxide formed Al2O3
 There is an alpha and a gamma oxide.
 Difference is the process and the temperature
to get alpha or gamma oxide.
 Mixed Al oxides are ruby (Cr3+)and sapphire
 (Fe2+,Fe3+, Ti4+)
 Halides are formed of all elements, the only
one that is special is TlI3.
 Tl and I2 form rather a Tl1+ and I3- compound
 All halides readily dissolve in benzene
 The most important hydride is LiAlH4
 It is a strong reducing agent and is mainly used
in organic chemistry
 It is used e.g. to hydrate double bonds