What is Boron?
Boron in the periodic table
Boron is a chemical element or group 13 element in the periodic table with the symbol B and atomic number 5. It is found in nature in crystalline and amorphous forms. Crystalline boron is a brittle, dark, lustrous element but an amorphous form is a brown powder.
It is a metalloid that lies above aluminum in the periodic table. The elemental form of boron is rare and poorly studied because pure B is extremely difficult to prepare. Most boron-containing samples contain a small amount of carbon.
Properties
Boron is the lightest element with a valence shell electron configuration of [He] 2s2 2p1. Hence, it has an electron in a p-orbital in its ground state. It rarely obeys the octet rule like other p-block elements. Usually, boron places only six electrons in its valence shell.
- Relative atomic mass: 10.81
- State at 20°C: Solid
- Melting point: 2077 °C, 2350 K
- Boiling point: 4000 °C, 4273 K
- Density (g/cm3): 2.34
- CAS number: 7440–42–8
- Chem Spider ID: 4575371
Like carbon, boron has the capability to form stable covalently bonded molecular networks. The crystalline form of boron is chemically very inert and resistant to attack by boiling hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid.
Boron does not react with air at room temperature but at high temperatures, it burns in oxygen to form boron trioxide.
Facts about boron
- It is a trace metalloid that is found in the earth’s crust and solar system.
- It is a poor conductor of electricity and is found in ceramics, flare guns, and fiber glasses.
- Boron is found in a hundred minerals on Earth’s crust but its elemental form is extremely difficult to produce.
- The elemental form of boron is rare and poorly studied because the pure form of boron is extremely difficult to prepare.
- It is an essential plant nutrient that is required commonly for maintaining the integrity of cell walls.
- Boromycin is a boron-based natural antibiotic that is a derivative of Streptomyces.
- Economically important sources of metalloid boron are colemanite, rasorite (kernite), ulexite, and tincal.
- The average price of the crystalline elemental form of boron is US$5/g.
Uses of boron
- The most important compounds of boron are boric (or boracic) acid, and borax (sodium borate), and the boric oxide may be used in eye drops, mild antiseptics, washing powders, and tile glazes.
- Historically, borax was used to make perborate. It is a bleaching agent that was widely used for making some detergents.
- Boron compounds are used in borosilicate glass manufacturing and wood preservation.
- Boron compounds are also found in various homes for the preservation of fish and margarine.
- Boric acid is one of the important materials for manufacturing textile products.
- In medicinal chemistry, boron has been consumed for menstrual cramps and boric acid is used vaginally for yeast infections.
- The compound sodium octaborate is used as a flame retardant.
- The isotope boron-10 is a good absorber of neutrons. Therefore, it can be used to regulate nuclear power reactors.
References
https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/5/boron
https://www.priyamstudycentre.com/2020/11/boron.html
