DECABORANE Meaning and
Definition
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Decaborane is a chemical compound that consists of ten boron atoms and fourteen hydrogen atoms. It is categorized as a boron hydride and is also known by its chemical formula B10H14. Decaborane is a solid, waxy substance with a high molecular weight and a pale yellow color. This compound is highly reactive, making it of significant interest in various fields, such as chemistry and materials science.
Due to its unique structure, decaborane exhibits many interesting properties. It has a high energy content, which makes it a potential source for fuel additives and rocket propellants. Additionally, decaborane can be easily converted into boron nitride, a material with exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, making it useful in ceramics, lubricants, and composites.
Being highly reactive, decaborane can react with various substances, including water and air. Its reactivity poses both challenges and opportunities, as it can be used in the synthesis of other compounds or as a reducing agent in organic chemistry reactions. However, its reactivity also makes it volatile and potentially hazardous, requiring caution in handling and storage.
In conclusion, decaborane is a compound consisting of ten boron atoms and fourteen hydrogen atoms. It is a versatile and reactive substance with intriguing properties, such as high energy content and the ability to form boron nitride. Its reactivity gives it potential applications in industries such as aerospace and materials science, while also posing safety considerations.
Etymology of DECABORANE
The word "decaborane" is derived from the combination of two components: "deca-" and "borane".
- "Deca-" is a prefix derived from the Latin word "deka", meaning ten. It is commonly used to indicate the number ten, as seen in words like "decathlon" (an athletic event consisting of ten different track and field events) or "decade" (a period of ten years).
- "Borane" refers to a class of chemical compounds that contain boron and hydrogen. The suffix "-ane" is used in organic chemistry to indicate an alkane compound, which consists solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. In this case, it is appropriated to indicate a compound involving hydrogen and boron.
Therefore, the term "decaborane" can be understood as a borane compound containing ten boron atoms.
