Given below are two statements: Statement I: Boron has an unusually high melting point compared to other group 13 members due to its strong crystalline lattice. Statement II: Boron is unable to form the [ BF ₆]³⁻ ion due to the non-availability of d -orbitals in its valence shell. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct. Boron is a non-metal and exists as an extremely hard solid. It forms a very strong crystalline lattice, which requires a large amount of energy to break, resulting in an unusually high melting point compared to the rest of the group 13 elements. Statement II is also correct. Boron belongs to the second period of the periodic table and its valence shell has only 2s and 2p orbitals. Due to the absence of d -orbitals, it cannot expand its octet to accommodate more than four electron pairs. Ther