Chapter 21, Problem 46PS

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To predict the oxidized and reduced substance in the reaction of ${\text{NaBH}}_{\text{4}}$ and ${\text{I}}_{\text{2}}$ to form diborane.

Concept introduction: Diborane is an important boron hydride compound with the formula ${\text{B}}_{\text{2}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}$. It is a gas and is very unstable and reacts easily with air and moisture. The reaction is very exothermic. Hydrogen is more electronegative than boron and is negatively charged. Boron in boron hydride compounds bears a positive charge.

Diborane can be synthesized from sodium boron hydride and iodine. The formula of sodium boron hydride is ${\text{NaBH}}_{\text{4}}$ and the formula of iodine is ${\text{I}}_{\text{2}}$. The reaction is a redox-type reaction. Redox reaction is those species in which one of the species is oxidized and the other species is reduced.

An oxidizing agent is a substance that oxidizes another substance in a chemical reaction and itself gets reduced.

A reducing agent is a substance that reduces another substance in a chemical reaction and itself gets oxidized.