Question

Draw the structure of boric acid showing hydrogen bonding. Which species is present in water ? What is the hybridisation of boron in this species ?

Answer 1

In water, boric acid is present in form of `[B(OH)_(4)]^(-)` species .
`B(OH)_(3) + 2H_(2)O rarr [B(OH)_(4)]^(-) +H_(3)O^(+)`
Since in this species , `[B(OH)_(4)]^(-)`, Bis attached to four OH group , therefore , B is `sp^(3)` hybridized.