boron

[ bawr-on, bohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a nonmetallic element occurring naturally only in combination, as in borax or boric acid, and obtained in either an amorphous or a crystalline form when reduced from its compounds. : B; : 10.811; : 5.

boron

/ ˈbɔːrɒn /

noun

1. a very hard almost colourless crystalline metalloid element that in impure form exists as a brown amorphous powder. It occurs principally in borax and is used in hardening steel. The naturally occurring isotope boron-10 is used in nuclear control rods and neutron detection instruments. Symbol: B; atomic no: 5; atomic wt: 10.81; valency: 3; relative density: 2.34 (crystalline), 2.37 (amorphous); melting pt: 2092°C; boiling pt: 4002°C

boron

/ bôr′ŏn′ /

1. A shiny, brittle, black metalloid element extracted chiefly from borax. It is a good electrical conductor at high temperatures and a poor conductor at low temperatures. Boron is necessary for the growth of land plants and is used in the preparation of soaps, abrasives, and hard alloys. It is also used in the control rods of nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber. Atomic number 5; atomic weight 10.811; melting point 2,300°C; sublimation point 2,550°C; specific gravity (crystal) 2.34; valence 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Other Words From

• bo·ron·ic [boh-, ron, -ik, baw-, b, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of boron¹

1805–15; bor(ax ¹ ) + (carb)on

Word History and Origins

Origin of boron¹

C19: from bor ( ax ) + ( carb ) on

Example Sentences

Activists want legislators to permanently ban the mining of lithium and boron in Serbia, warning of possible dangers to public health and contamination of land and water.

From BBC

These values surpass those of commonly used materials such as silicon dioxide and hexagonal boron nitride.

From Science Daily

The application of boron in organic chemistry dates back some seventy years and was awarded a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1979.

From Science Daily

"We made the borophene by subjecting the boron powders to high-energy sound waves and then mixed these platelets with different amino acids in a liquid to impart the chirality," Pan said.

From Science Daily

Specifically, the microparticles are neodymium magnets -- powerful magnets made of neodymium, iron and boron.

From Science Daily