Boric acid is tribasic acid.
Boric acid contains three hydroxyl groups.

Explanation

To determine the validity of the statements regarding boric acid, we will analyze each part step by step.

### Step 1: Understanding Boric Acid
Boric acid is represented by the chemical formula H₃BO₃. It consists of a boron atom (B) bonded to three hydroxyl groups (OH).

### Step 2: Analyzing the First Statement
The first statement claims that "boric acid is a tribasic acid." A tribasic acid is one that can donate three protons (H⁺ ions) in solution.

- Although boric acid has three hydroxyl groups, it does not behave as a tribasic acid. Instead, it acts as a monobasic acid. This is because it does not release three H⁺ ions when dissolved in water.

### Step 3: Understanding Why Boric Acid is Monobasic
Boric acid acts as a Lewis acid rather than a Brønsted acid. It accepts a pair of electrons from water instead of donating protons from its hydroxyl groups.

- The boron atom in boric acid has an incomplete octet, making it electron-deficient. Therefore, it accepts a lone pair of electrons from water, forming a metaborate ion (B(OH)₄⁻) and releasing only one H⁺ ion.

### Conclusion for the First Statement
Thus, the first statement is **false**; boric acid is not tribasic, it is monobasic.

### Step 4: Analyzing the Second Statement
The second statement claims that "boric acid contains three hydroxyl groups."

- This statement is true because the structure of boric acid indeed includes three hydroxyl groups attached to the boron atom.

### Conclusion for the Second Statement
Thus, the second statement is **true**; boric acid does contain three hydroxyl groups.

### Final Summary
- The first statement ("boric acid is tribasic") is **false**.
- The second statement ("boric acid contains three hydroxyl groups") is **true**.

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