B
Boron is a metalloid essential for plant growth and used in many industrial applications.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 10.81 u |
| Density | 2.34 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 2349.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 4200.0 K |
| Appearance | Black-brown crystalline solid |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.04 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 800.6 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 26.7 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +1, +2, +3 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [He] 2s2 2p1 |
| Atomic Radius | 87.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 84.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 192.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, Louis Jacques Thenard |
| Discovery Year | 1808 |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Named After | Arabic 'buraq' or Persian 'burah' meaning borax |
About Boron
Boron is a metalloid that exists in many polymorphs, with the most common being amorphous brown powder and black crystalline forms. It is an essential micronutrient for plants but toxic in excess. Boron compounds have been known for thousands of years. Pure boron was first produced in 1808.
Uses & Applications
Borosilicate glass (Pyrex), fiberglass insulation, laundry bleach (borax), semiconductor dopant, and neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.
Fun Fact
Boron nitride can form a structure nearly as hard as diamond and is sometimes called 'white graphene'.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 10 | 0.199% | - | Yes |
| 11 | 0.801% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s2 2p1