Question

Do Boron and silicon react with electropositive metals?

(a) Yes

(b) No

(c) Maybe

(d) May not be

I got this question during an internship interview.

Question is taken from p-Block Elements topic in portion p-Block Elements of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct option is (a) Yes

To explain I would say: Both boron and silicon form covalent hydrides like boranes and silanes respectively. They do react with electropositive metals and give binary compounds, which yield a mixture of boranes and silanes on hydrolysis.