JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3qa015
A white solid Y dissolves in water to give an alkaline solution and imparts a persistent golden-yellow flame. It swells on heating and fuses to a glassy mass. When Y is warmed with ethanol and conc. HX2SOX4 and the vapour is ignited, it burns with a green-edged flame. Y and the number of ethanol molecules that react with each boron atom to form the volatile ester are respectively
ANaX2COX3⋅10HX2O ; 3
BNaX2BX4OX7⋅10HX2O ; 3
CHX3BOX3 ; 1
DNaX2BX4OX7⋅10HX2O ; 4
Answer: B
Golden-yellow flame needs sodium, alkaline solution, swelling and glass formation point to borax. The green-edged flame is from B(OCX2HX5)X3: B(OH)X3+3CX2HX5OHB(OCX2HX5)X3+3HX2O, so 3 ethanol molecules per boron. Boric acid has no sodium and is acidic, and sodium carbonate gives no green flame.