Question:hard

The structure of \(\mathrm{B_4H_{10}}\) is given below. Its styx number is:

Show Hint

Count total H (10) minus one terminal H per boron (4) to get 6 extra H's split between bridges (s) and \(\mathrm{BH_2}\) groups (x); read the one B-B bond as y and check t=0 from the open butterfly skeleton.
Updated On: Jul 20, 2026
  • 4012
  • 4102
  • 2104
  • 2014
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Count total valence electrons and pairs.
Each boron contributes 3 valence electrons and each hydrogen contributes 1. For $\mathrm{B_4H_{10}}$: total electrons $=4(3)+10(1)=12+10=22$, so there are 11 electron pairs to place.

Step 2: Subtract the electrons used for the default terminal $\mathrm{B-H}$ bonds.
Every one of the 4 borons must have at least one normal terminal $\mathrm{B-H}$ bond, using 4 pairs, leaving $11-4=7$ pairs for bridge bonds, extra $\mathrm{B-B}$ bonds, 3-centre bonds, and extra terminal hydrogens. This matches $s+t+y+x=(2p+q)/2=7$.

Step 3: Use the remaining hydrogen count to split $s$ and $x$.
Total H is 10, and 4 are already used as one-per-boron terminal hydrogens, leaving 6 extra. Each bridge hydrogen ($s$) and each second terminal hydrogen on a $\mathrm{BH_2}$ group ($x$) accounts for one of these 6, so $s+x=6$. From the drawing, the 4 bridging positions give $s=4$, leaving $x=6-4=2$.

Step 4: Solve for $t$ and $y$ using the remaining pair count.
From Step 2, $s+t+y+x=7$. Substituting $s=4,x=2$: $t+y=1$. The drawn structure shows one direct $\mathrm{B-B}$ bond linking the two bridgehead borons and no closed 3-centre triangle in the open, butterfly-shaped $\mathrm{B_4}$ skeleton, so $y=1$, $t=0$.

Step 5: Assemble and cross-check.
$s,t,y,x=4,0,1,2$. Cross-check with $2s+3t+2y+x=3p$: $2(4)+0+2(1)+2=12=3(4)$, correct.

Final Answer:
The styx number is 4012, option (A). \[\boxed{4012}\]
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