Pre-lab exercise for the week of 9/11/2000

This exercise is due two hours before your lab session

1. Use a pen(cil) and paper to draw a Lewis structure of (BH₄)^-1 before answering the following questions. What is the shape of this anion (focus on the boron)? What is the formal charge of each atom in the molecule? How are its bonds polarized?

2. Your lab procedure calls for you to monitor your reduction reaction using TLC. Provide a description of how you intend to accomplish this.

3. At the end of the lab, we will analyze the product composition by GC-MS (a mass spectroscopy technique). Based on the minimal introduction to mass spectroscopy you've received, how might you tell the starting ketone from the product alcohol?