Orthoboric acid and orthoborates

In H3BO3 planar B(OH)3 molecules (B—0, 1-36 A) are linked into plane layers by O-H-0 bonds of length 2-72 A, the angle between which (at a given 0 atom) is 

114° (Fig. 24.11). The H atoms were located by X-ray diffraction at positions about one A from the 0 atoms to which they are bonded, a result confirmed by a n.d. study of D3BO3 (0-D, 0-97 A along a linear O-D - 0 bond of length 2-71 A).(  

Portion of a layer of H3BO3 Broken lines indicate 0-H -O bonds. 

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