Boron (B)
"The Glass Guardian, a hero who can withstand extreme heat and strengthen everything they touch."
A memorable persona to anchor B in your mind.
2.34
Grams per cm³
2077
Celsius (°C)
192
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Heat-resistant Pyrex glass cookware in the kitchen.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1808
Discovered By
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac & Louis Jacques Thénard
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Arabic 'buraq', which was the name for borax."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
10.81 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
4000°C
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s22p1
1st Ionization Energy
8.298 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A hard, black, lustrous metalloid in its crystalline form."
Did You Know?
In its crystalline form, boron is the second-hardest element, surpassed only by carbon in the form of diamond.
Borosilicate glass (like Pyrex) is infused with boron, making it highly resistant to thermal shock and less likely to shatter when heated or cooled rapidly.
When added to fireworks, boron compounds burn with a distinctive bright green flame.
Boron is an essential nutrient for all green plants, playing a crucial role in strengthening their cell walls.