Boron is an element on the periodic table with symbol B, atomic number 5, and atomic weight 10.81. Located in the 3A group of the periodic table, boron is a semiconductor metalloid. Boron occurs naturally in the form of two stable isotopes, namely B10 and B11. For the B10 isotope, the natural rate of occurrence is 19.1–20.3%, whereas for the B11 it is 79.7–80.9%.
Chemically unbound boron cannot be found naturally on Earth. It forms compounds with various metallic and non-metallic elements of different characteristics. Thus, many boron compounds can be used in different industries. When forming other compounds, boron acts like a non-metallic compound. Pure boron, on the other hand, is an electrical conductor just like carbon. Optically and visually, crystallized boron exhibits structures like diamonds and it is almost equally hard. Pure boron was first isolated by the French chemists, J.L. Gay-Lussac and Baron L.J. Thenard, and the British chemist, H. Davy, in 1808.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
