Boron is one of those elements whose name alone does not ring a bell.
But it is actually used close to us.

In this article, we will explain about boron.
By the time you finish reading the article, you will definitely know enough about boron not to be bothered if it is mentioned in science class!

Properties and characteristics of boron

Boron is an element that makes up boric acid and is often used in experiments to investigate the dissolution of substances.

Pure boron is so hard that it is said to be the second hardest substance after diamond.

How boron is used in society

Boron is used in many applications across sectors, including ‘fire-resistant glass’, ‘eye drops and poultices’ and ‘exterminators’.

So what specific benefits are they used for?
Let’s take a look at each of these,

Boron is useful for “fireproof glass”

It is a semi-metallic material that is light and difficult to melt and can be mixed with glass to make fire-resistant glass. The boron is the reason why the ‘flask’ can be set on fire in a chemistry experiment.

It is also sometimes used in rocket engine nozzles due to its very high melting point of 2092°C.

Boron is useful for “eye drops, wet compresses, soap, etc.”

When dissolved in water, it becomes boric acid water and creates a bactericidal effect.
This is why they are often used in disinfectants and soaps.
It is a particularly useful element in the medical field.

Boron is useful for “borax dumplings”

Have you heard of “Japanese Housan Dango”? Housan Dango means boric acid dumplings.

It is used as an exterminator to kill cockroaches and rats, and is now used all over the world because it is so effective. This one also contains boric acid.

Boric acid is also found in ant repellents that defeat ants.

History of boron

Chemical symbol: B
English name：Boron

The reason is that, despite the fact that stand-alone boron is black, when it was first discovered, boron was white sand called borax. (bauraq in Arabic, buruah in Persian).

Summary

In this issue, we have explained the followings.

• Boron on its own is the second hardest after diamond.
• Used in ‘fireproof glass’, ‘eye drops and poultices’, ‘Japanese Housan Dango (boric acid dumplings)’.
• The name comes from the word ‘white’.

If you are interested in other elements, please see the following article for a summary.