Boron Element With Reaction, Properties, Uses, & Price

05 B (Boron Element)

About Boron Element

Boron is a non-metallic element, and it is the only non-metal of the group-13 of the periodic table elements. It is a poor conductor of electricity at normal or Room temperature, but a good conductor at high temperature.

β rhombohedral boron — Rhombohedral β Boron

The most common form (Pure form) of Boron is Amorphous boron (A dark powder), which is unreactive to Oxygen, Water, Acids, and Alkalis. But it reacts with metals and forms borides.

Identity
CAS Number: CAS7440-42-8
CID Number: CID5462311
DOT Hazard Class: N/A
DOT Number: N/A
RTECS Number: RTECSED7350000

Properties of Boron

Basic Properties of Boron

Pronunciation: (Bohr-on / bo-ron)
Allotropes: α-rhombohedral, β-rhombohedral, β-tetragonal and more
Appearance: Black-brown
Mass Number: 10
Standard Atomic weight: 10.81 g/mol
Atomic number (Z): 5
Electrons: 5
Protons: 5
Neutrons: 6
Period: 2
Group: 13
Block: p
Element category: Metalloid
Electrons per shell: K2, L3
Electron configuration: 1s²2s²2p¹

boron electron configuration — Boron Electron Configuration

Thermal Properties of Boron

Phase: Solid
Melting point: 2348 K (2075 ^oC, 3767 ^oF)
Boiling point: 4200 K (3927 ^oC, 7100 ^oF)
Debye temperature: 1250 K (976.85 ^oC, 1790.33 ^oF)
Fusion heat: 50.2 kJ/mol
Vaporization heat: 508 kJ/mol
Specific heat: 1030 J/(kg K)
Molar heat capacity: 11.08 J/(mol.K)
Thermal expansion: β: 5-7 μm/(m∙K)
Thermal conductivity: 27.4 W/(m∙K)
Neel Point (magnetic ordering temperature) T_N: N/A

Electrical properties of Boron

Electrical conductivity: 0.0001 S/m
Electrical resistivity: -10⁶ μΩ∙m
Electrical type: Dielectric
Resistivity: 10000 mΩ
Critical point (Superconducting point): N/A

Magnetic Properties of Boron

Magnetic type: Diamagnetic
Curie point: N/A
Magnetic susceptibility (x_mol): -6.7×10^-6 cm³/mol
Volume magnetic susceptibility: -0.0000214
Mass magnetic susceptibility: -8.7×10^-9 m³/kg
Molar magnetic susceptibility: -0.0941×10^-9 m³/mol

Physical Properties of Boron

Density: 2.08 g/cm³ (In liquid)
Molar volume: 0.00002045 m³/mol
Young’s modulus: N/A
Shear modulus: N/A
Mohs Hardness: 9.3
Bulk modulus: 320 GPa
Poisson ratio: N/A
Vicker hardness: 49000 MPa
Brinell hardness: N/A
Sound Speed: 16,200 m/s

Atomic Properties of Boron

Oxidation states: -5, -1, +1, +2, +3
Valence Electrons: 2s² 2p¹
Ion charge: N/A
The ionization potential of an atom: 8.33 eV
Ionization energies: 1st: 800.5 kJ.mol 2nd: 2427 kJ/mol 3rd: 3659.5 kJ/mol
Ionic radius: 23 pm
Atomic radius: 90 pm (empirical)
Van der Waals: 192 Pm
Covalent radius: 84±3 pm
Filling Orbital: 2p¹
Crystal structure: Rhombohedral
Lattice angles: π/2, π/2, 2π/3
Lattice constant: 1017, 1017, 1017 pm
Grid parameters: a=10.17 Å, α=65.18 Å
Attitude c/a: 0.576
Space Group Name: R_3m
Space Group Number: 166

Reactivity of Boron

Electronegativity: 2.04 (pauling scale)
Valence: 3
Electron affinity: 26.7 kJ/mol

Nuclear Properties of Boron

Half Life: Stable (Infinity)
Lifetime: Stable (Infinity)
Quantum Number: ²P_1/2
Neutron cross section (Brans): 760
Neutron Mass Absorption: 2.4
Isotopes: 10_B 11_B

Isotope	Abundance (%)	Atomic Mass g/mol	Half Life (t_1/2)
10_B	20	10.012	Stable
11_B	80	11.008	Stable

Chemical Reactions of Boron

Reaction with Air

Boron doesn’t react with air at room temperature. But at high temperature, it reacts with Oxygen and forming boron (III) oxide (B₂O₃).
4 B (s) + 3 O₂ (g) → 2 B₂O₃ (s)

Reaction with Water

It doesn’t react with water under normal condition.

Reaction with Halogens

Boron reacts with Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine and forming the Boron (III) trihalides.
2 B (s) + 3 F₂ (g) → 2 BF₃ (g) (Boron (lll) fluoride)
2 B (s) + 3 Cl₂ (g) → 2 BCl₃ (l) (Boron (lll) chloride)
2 B (s) + 3 Br₂ (g) → 2 BBr₃ (l) (Boron (lll) bromide)

Reaction with Acids

Crystalline boron doesn’t react with Boiling HydroFluoric acid (HF) or HydroChloric acid (HCL). But Amorphous (Powdered) boron oxidizes slowly when treated with concentrated Nitric Acid (HNO₃).

History of Boron Element

Naming Origin: From borax and carbon.
Discovery: Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thénard (30 June 1808)
First isolation: Humphry Davy (9 July 1808)

Boron Uses

Amorphous (Non crystalline) boron is used in pyrotechnic flares to provide a distinctive green color, and in Rockets as a Fuel igniter. The most commercially important boron compound is Borax (sodium tetraborate) Pentahydrate (Na₂B₄O₇.5H₂O), which is used to a large scale in the manufacture of insulation fibreglass and sodium perborate bleach.

Boric (or boracic) acid (H₃BO₃), Borax (sodium borate) and Boric oxide (The pure form of B₂O₃) are also most important compound of Boron.

Boric acid has antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties, so it is applied as a water clarifier in swimming pool water treatment. Mild solution used as Eye Antiseptics. As well as it is used in Textile Fiberglass, flat panel displays and in many PVAc- and PVOH-based adhesives.
It is also used as an insecticide (against Ants, Fleas, and Cockroaches).

Borax is used in various household laundry and cleaning products like detergents, bleaches etc… and used as a food preservative. It is also used in some anti-corrosion systems, as well as used as a flux for soldering gold and silver and with ammonium chloride for welding ferrous metals.
Sodium octaborate is a flame retardant (prevent fires from starting and spreading).

Boric oxide is extensively used in the manufacture of borosilicate glass (Pyrex) to makes the glass tough and heat resistant. Fibreglass textiles and insulation are made from borosilcate glass.

Other boron compounds show promise in Treating Arthritis.

The isotope boron-10 is good for absorbing neutrons, so it is used as a shield to control nuclear radiation in nuclear reactors. B-10 is also used in instruments used for detecting neutrons, as well as used in Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

boron neutron capture therapy — Boron-10 In Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron nitride (BN) is thermally and chemically resistant refractory compound and has a property to make a material hard as diamond.
The Nitride (N^3-) also behaves like an Electrical Insulator but conducts heat like a metal.

Boron also has lubricating properties similar to graphite.
Boron filaments (Boron Fiber) are used for advanced aerospace structures, due to their High-strength, Light weight, and High elastic modulus.

Boron is similar to carbon, and it has the capacity to form stable covalently bonded molecular networks.
Metalloboranes, Phosphacarboranes, Carbonates, and other families comprise thousands of compounds.

Biological role of Boron Element

Boron Element and the borates are considered to be non-toxic. However, some of the more exotic boron hydrogen compounds are definitely toxic and require handling with care.

Boron is essential for the cell walls of plants. Plants absorb boron from the ground and through plant-consuming animals it can end up in food chains.
It is not considered poisonous to animals or humans, but in higher doses it can upset the body’s metabolism.

Humans can be exposed to boron through Water, Air, Fruits & Vegetables, and consumer Products (Cometics, Laundry etc…). We intake about 2 milligrams (mg) of boron each day, and about 60 grams in a lifetime.
If we consume a large amount of boron-containing food, it may raise the level of boron that can cause health problems. It can infect the Stomach, Kidneys, Liver, and Brain, which can eventually lead to death.

It can also affect the male reproductive organs and exposed to boron during pregnancy, their child may suffer from birth defects or delayed development.

With exposure to small amounts of boron, irritation in the Throat, Nose, or eyes may occur. 5 gm of boric acid can make us ill and 20 grams or more put our life in danger.

Some boron compounds are being studied as a possible treatment for brain tumors by Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT).

Boron Sources

Elemental Boron is not found free in nature, It occurs as Orthoboric Acid in some volcanic spring water, and as borates (BO₃^-3) in Borax (Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O) and Colemantie (Ca₂B₆O₁₁·5H₂O). Extensive borax deposits are also found in Turkey.

colemanite — Colemanite (Borates Mineral)

The most important source of boron is Rasorite (kernite, Na₂B₄O₆(OH)₂·3H₂O) and Tincal (borax ore, Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂O), which are found in the Mojave Desert in California (USA).

kernite mineral — Kernite or Rasorite Mineral

High-purity crystalline boron is prepared by the vapour phase reduction of boron Trichloride (BCl₃) or Tribromide (BBr₃) with hydrogen, on electrically heated filaments. Impure (amorphous) boron can be prepared by heating the trioxide (O₃) with magnesium powder.

Boron occurs in the environment mainly through natural processes.
It occurs naturally in the environment due to the release into air, soil and water through weathering.
It may also occur in groundwater in very small amounts.

Boron element with purity of 99.9999%, has been produced and is available commercially. Elemental boron has an energy band gap of 1.50 to 1.56 eV, which is higher than that of either Silicon or Germanium.

Annual world wide production of Boron oxide (B₂O₃) is around 20,00,000 tonnes.
1×10^-7% (In Universe)
0.00016% (In Meteorites)
2×10^-7% (In Sun)
0.00086% (In Earth’s Crust)
0.00044% (In Oceans)
0.00007% (In Humans)
World’s Top 3 producers of Boron
1) Turkey
2) USA
3) Chile
World’s Top 3 Reserve holders of Boron
1) Turkey
2) Russia
3) USA

Boron Price

Pure (99.95%) Element (Crystalline Boron) price is around $10 per G (Gram)

You Can Buy Pure Boron Element and Boron Products

Element Database

Boron B (Element 5) of Periodic Table

About Boron Element