BORON

HISTOR DISCOVERE LIFE

APPLICATION
RS
Y
It was used as a flux used by
goldsmiths. In 1808, Louis- Boron is applied in filaments used in fiber
optics research. Few of its other
Josef Gay-Lussac and Louis- applications, however, have much to do
Jacques Thénard working in Joseph Louis with electrical conductivity. Boric or
boracic acid is used as a mild antiseptic,
Paris, and Sir Humphry
Gay-Lussac and in North America, it is applied for
Davy in London, the control of cockroaches, silverfish, and
other pests. A compound known as borax
independently extracted is a water softener in washing powders,
boron by heating borax with while other compounds are used to
potassium metal. In fact, produce enamels for the coating of
refrigerators and other appliances.
neither had produced the Compounds involving boron are also
pure element which is almost present in pyrotechnic flares, because
they emit a distinctive green color, and in
impossible to obtain. the igniters of rockets.

Louis Jacques Thénard

Humphry Davy
PHYSICAL
FACTS/TRIVIA
PROPERTIES
Boron is fairly rare in the solar system and makes
Boron combines with oxygen in the air to up only 0.001% of the Earth's crust, but its
form boron trioxide ( B 2 O 3 ). Boron naturally occurring compounds are quite
trioxide forms a thin film on the surface that common. Some common compounds of boron are
prevents further reaction with oxygen. borax, boric acid, colemanite, kernite, ulexite, and
Boron is not soluble in water. It normally borates.
does not react with acids. In powder form, it
reacts with hot nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and hot
sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ). It also dissolves in
molten (melted) metals.

ELEMENTAL ELEMENTAL
DIAGRAM NUMBER