Boron
Template:Chem Infobox Boron, with atomic number Z = 5 and chemical symbol B, is a rare element present in only 0.0003% of the earth's crust, mostly found in dry lake beds in the western United States in the form of borax (Na2B4O5(OH)5• 8H2O), and kernite (Na2B4O5(OH)5•2H2O), which are hydrated sodium salts of tetraboric acid. Borax is mildly alkiline and is used as a cleansing agent. In addition, due its low melting temperature, boron is used in flux for soldering and welding. Some boron compounds are Lewis acids and elemental boron forms three-center two-electron bonds. Borohydrides are widely used as chemical reducing agents.
boric acids
Boric acid, H3BO3, is a mildly acid antiseptic formed from the reaction of borax with sulfuric acid. Boric acids include orthoboric acid (H3BO3), metaboric acid (HBO2) and tetraboric (or pyroboric) acid (H2B4O7).
boron halides
All four boron trihalides are planar, non-polar, covalent compounds. Boron trifluoride is a gas, boron triiodide is a solid and boron trichloride and tribromide are liquids. Boron trihalides are Lewis acids and react readily with water to produce boric acid and the corresponding hydrogen halide.
boron hydrides
Boron hydrides are excellent sources of the hydride ion H- and thus are good reducing agents. Sodium borohydride, NaBH4, is a reducing agent used in many inorganic and organic reactions. Lithium borohydride (LiB4) and aluminum borohydride (Al(BH4)3 are also common borohydrides used in chemistry. The reduction of ketones to secondary alcohols is a typical use for these reagents. Boron hydrides can fall in one of two categories, those with formula BnHn+4 or the less stable formula BnHn+6
elemental boron
Elemental boron exists in a number of allotropes. -rhombohedral boron is the simplest structure. All forms are polyhedral clusters of boron atoms, are semi-conductors and are very hard materials. All forms of elemental boron contain both three-center two-electron bonds as well as the typical two-center two-electron bonds found in most molecules.
