Is boric acid a protic acid? Explain.

Question:

Is boric acid a protic acid? Explain.

Solution:

Boric acid is not a protic acid. It is a weak monobasic acid, behaving as a Lewis acid.

$\mathrm{B}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}+2 \mathrm{HOH} \longrightarrow\left[\mathrm{B}(\mathrm{OH})_{4}\right]^{-}+\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{+}$

It behaves as an acid by accepting a pair of electrons from $-\mathrm{OH}$ ion.

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