The crystalline form of borax has

Options

A. tetrabnuclear `[B_(4)O_(5)(OH)_(4)]^(2-)` unit
B. all boron atoms in the same plane
C. equal number of `sp^(2)` and `sp^(3)` hybridized boron atoms
D. one terminal hydroxide per boron atom

Answer

A, C, D

Explanation

It contains tetranuclear `[B_(4)O_(5)(OH)_(4)]^(2-)` units having two `sp^(2)` and two `sp^(3)`-hybridized boron atoms. It also contains one terminal hydroxide per boron unit. Thus, option (b) which states that all boron atoms lie in the same plane is wrong since all the boron atoms are not `sp^(2)`-hybridized . Thus, all the remaining (a,c,d) options are correct.