What is boron hydride?

Boron hydrides are a class of compounds that include the chemical structure BxHy; for example, diborane with the chemical formula B2H6. Boron hydrides are also called boranes.

Boranes have different prefixes depending on the general formula of the type of borane that is being discussed. For example, BnHn ions with a -2 charge are called closo-boranes. The other prefixes are nido-, arachno- and hypho-, which correspond to boranes with four, six and eight more hydrogen atoms than boron atoms in the molecule.

Boron hydrides can also form borohydride salts with metal ions, including lithium, sodium and potassium. These borohydride salts can be used for chemical vapor deposition to produce thin coats of metal on surfaces.