Final answer:
B2O3 is correctly named diboron trioxide. It is used in making heat-resistant borosilicate glass and can form boric acid when dissolved in hot water. The substance features both amorphous and crystalline structures, emphasizing boron's unique chemical behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound B2O3 is named diboron trioxide. It is also known as boron oxide and is typically found as a white, amorphous solid, which is a glassy material with a high degree of disorder in its structure.
Boron burns at 700 °C in the presence of oxygen to form diboron trioxide.
An important application of B2O3 is in the production of heat-resistant borosilicate glass and certain optical glasses. When boric oxide is dissolved in hot water, it forms boric acid according to the equation:
B2O3 (s) + 3H2O(l) → B(OH)3.
The molecular structure of diboron trioxide can be represented by five identical and separated hexagonal rings in its amorphous form, and a more interconnected structure with four large rings when heated into its crystalline form.
Boron is a metalloid that has the capability to form covalent bonds similar to carbon and silicon, yet it possesses a unique electronic configuration that allows it to form compounds, like diboron trioxide, with an oxidation state of 3+.
Considering the student's options, the correct answer to the nomenclature of B2O3 is letter B, diboron trioxide.