CBSE Class 11-science Answered

In diborane (B₂H₆), each Boron atom uses sp³ hybrids for bonding.

B

Electronic configuration = 1s² 2s² 2p¹

It undergoes sp³ hybridisation.

Out of the four sp³ hybrid electrons, two singly occupied orbitals bond with singly occupied 1s orbital of H. These are normal 2 centre 2 electron bond. 2 centres (B,H)

The sp3 hybrid orbital which is without an electron, forms a bond with singly occupied orbital of the second B and singly occupied 1s orbital of H. So, w can say that there are three cetres – B, H and B . Tehre are two electrons – one from H and one from one of the borons sinceone B does not have any electron. So, three centres (B, H, B ) share two electrons.  This bond is a bridge bond also referred as banana bond.

The fourth singly occupied B atom forms a banana bond with the other B and H similarly.