Question

What happens when diborane is heated with excess ammonia?

Answer 1

When diborane is heated with excess ammonia, it reacts with ammonia to form borazine and hydrogen.

"This reaction takes place at a high temperature of 180-190˚C". This reaction of diborane and ammonia is considered to be highly complex in nature. Diborane is majorly used as rocket propellants and also as a reducing agent.  

The chemical equation for the reaction is:

$\mathrm{B}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}+\mathrm{NH}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{B}_{3} \mathrm{N}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{6}+\mathrm{H}_{2}$

The balanced equation for the reaction is:

$3 \mathrm{B}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}+6 \mathrm{NH}_{3} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{B}_{3} \mathrm{N}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{6}+12 \mathrm{H}_{2}$.