Final answer:
Boron nitride is a covalent network solid with a structure similar to that of graphite. It consists of alternating layers of boron and nitrogen atoms held together by weak van der Waals forces. The structure can be sketched as shown above.
Step-by-step explanation:
Boron nitride, BN, is a covalent network solid with a structure similar to that of graphite. In boron nitride, each boron atom is bonded to three nitrogen atoms, and each nitrogen atom is bonded to three boron atoms, forming a hexagonal lattice structure.
This structure can be thought of as alternating layers of boron and nitrogen atoms. Just like in graphite, the layers are held together by weak van der Waals forces, allowing them to slide past each other easily.
The sketch below shows a small portion of the boron nitride structure:
Note: The sketch is not to scale and is only a representation of a small portion of the boron nitride structure. It does not show the exact arrangement of the atoms.