What is Boron?
Boron is the top element in the 13th column of the periodic table of elements. It possess properties and characteristics of both metal and nonmetal, thus, the reason it is called metalloid.
It is electron-deficient and comes in many forms, with amorphous boron as the most common. It is a good conductor of electricity at a high temperature.
Where is Boron obtained?
Boron is rare on earth. In fact, you cannot find pure boron on earth. The good thing is that it is available in many compounds such as borax and kernite. These compounds are abundant in sedimentary rock formations. However, only a few deposits can be mined economically and they are found in the United States, Turkey, Russia, Chile, China, Peru, and Argentina.
History of Boron
It was in 1808 when boron was introduced as a new element. Sir Humphry Davy, an English chemist, and French chemists Louis J. Thenard and Joseph L. Gay-Lussac, were the people responsible for the discovery of Boron. In 1909, almost pure boron was produced by Ezekiel Weintraub, an American chemist.
Classification, Properties and Characteristics
Boron is classified as a metalloid because it shares characteristics of both metals and non-metals. It comes in polymorphs, and some are more metallic than others. The metallic side of boron is extremely hard and would require an extremely high temperature to melt.
Furthermore, boron does not form ionic bonds but forms stable covalent bonds.It also has the ability to transmit portions of infrared light. When it comes to electrical conductivity, boron is a poor conductor at room temperature but conducts electricity at a high temperature.
Amorphous boron is not reactive to acids, alkalis, water, and oxygen. However, it forms borides when it comes in contact with metals.
Lewis Dot Structure of Boron
Bohr’s Atomic Model of Boron
Atomic Data of Boron
Physical Properties of Boron
| Color | Brown/Black |
| odor | odorless |
| Taste | tasteless |
| Atomic Mass | 10.811 u |
| Weight | 10.81 |
| Density | 2.34 |
| Atomic Radius | 192 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 84 pm |
| Ionic Radius | 27 pm |
| Ionization energy | 8.298 eV |
| Electronic Gain Enthalpy | 800 |
| Electron Negativity | 2.04 |
| Electron Affinity | 26.7 kJ/mol |
| Melting Point | 2077oC, 2350K, 3771oF |
| Boiling Point | 4000oC, 4273K, 7232oF |
Chemical Properties of Boron
| Atomic Number | 5 |
| Group | 13 |
| Period | 2 |
| Block | p |
| Electronic Configuration | [He] 2s22p1 |
| Combustion | Highly flammable |
| Chemical Reactivity | Chemically inert at room temperature |
| Valency of Element | 3 |
Different States of Boron
Boron, being a metalloid, is solid at reasonable temperatures and pressures. It is isolated as a brown, amorphous solid.
What are the common uses of boron?
- The ability of boron to modify electrical properties makes it perfect for doping semiconductors like germanium and silicon.
- Boric acid is used in the healthcare industry as a mild antiseptic.
- Boron oxide is useful in industries that create ceramics and glassware.
- Boric acid is used as a flame retardant.
- One of the unique properties of Boron Nitride is its thermal and chemical stability, making it perfect to be used in high-temperature equipment.
- Borax is used as a cleansing fluid in industries like fiberglass.
- It is an effective water softener and disinfectant.
- In the agriculture sector, boron is used as an herbicide and insecticide. It is helpful in regulating the plant’s reproductive cycle. It is useful in maximizing the production of food for a growing population. In some countries, like India, the government supports the use of boron in the agricultural industry to increase farmers’ productivity.
- Boron plays an important role in energy-saving applications. It is used in insulation, which is one of the standards in green buildings.
- Borates play an important role in industries that use high-powered magnets, such as wind turbines.
- Boron carbide is used in bulletproof vests and tank armor.
Price of Boron
The price of boron is dependent on the type and form. Amorphous boron costs around $2/g while crystalline boron is priced at $5/g. Other factors can play a huge part in the current price of boron, such as supply and demand.
Interesting Facts About Boron
- Boron is an extremely tough element. In fact, it is so tough that it can resist heat.
- Boron is the second hardest element in its crystalline form, second only to diamond.
- Boron is one of the elements that has a high melting point.
- Boron is available in two forms: amorphous and crystalline. The reactive form is amorphous, while the non-reactive form is crystalline boron.
- Boron got its name from the mineral borax, which derived its name from the Arabic word “burah.”
- Boron is a very good neutron absorber.
- Boron is one of the rarest chemical elements in the universe and solar system.
- You can find the largest known deposit of boron in Turkey. It holds around 72% of the world’s boron deposits.
- Boron’s most common compounds include borax, boric acid, borates, ulexite, kernite, and colemanite.
- Pure boron is in dark amorphous powder form.
- Boron creates a green flame when burned. It is one of the primary components of fireworks and pyrotechnics.
- Boron is added to glass and glassware to make them more resistant to heat shock. Glassware found in the laboratory is made from borosilicate glass.
Pictures of Boron
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is Group 13 in the periodic table of elements called the “boron family?”
Boron is the first chemical element in group 13, and so the group was referred to as the Boron Group. Other members of the boron family are aluminium, indium, gallium, and thallium.
Q2. What sets boron apart from other members of the boron family (Group 13) of chemical elements?
Boron is small in size and doesn’t have d-electrons, making it unique from the rest of the chemicals in its group. It exhibits properties called “anomalic properties. The oxides and hydroxides of boron are acidic in nature, unlike the other elements in its group that have an amphoteric nature.
Q3. Is boron a metal?
It is not metal, although it has properties similar to those of metal. However, it also shares non-metal properties. That is why it is called a metalloid. Just like metal, boron is a solid known for its metallic gloss and super strength. Because of its non-metal characteristics, it forms a covalent bond with other non-metallic substances. It also has low concreteness.
Q4. What is so special about boron?
A crystalline form of boron is super strong, making it the second-hardest element. Boron formed after the Big Bang through a process known as cosmic ray formation.
Q5. Is boron a poisonous element?
Boron is not a poisonous element, but is neither safe nor stable. A huge amount of boron can be very toxic. You’ll start to exhibit symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, tremors, and general weakness.
References
- https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/b.html
- https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/5/boron
- https://www.britannica.com/science/boron-chemical-element
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron
- https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Boron
- https://www.chemicool.com/elements/boron.html
- https://byjus.com/chemistry/boron/
- https://www.thoughtco.com/metal-profile-boron-4039140
- https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Boron
- https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele005.html