Physical and chemical properties of boron
Boron

Boron is a non-metallic semiconductor element with very high melting and boiling temperatures (2,300°C and 2,550°C respectively). Its chemistry is dominated by covalent compounds, and its electronic configuration is [He]2s²2p¹. Its properties are intermediate between those of metals and metalloids.

Boron does not exist in its elemental state in nature and has two isotopes ¹⁰B and ¹¹B. The ¹⁰B isotope has a strong ability to capture thermal neutrons.

Boron compounds result from its very high reactivity.

With halogens, it gives trihalides (BF₃ , BCl₃ , BBr₃ and BI₃) whose volatility decreases with molecular weight (boiling temperatures are – 99.9 °C for BF₃ , 12.5 °C for BCl₃ , 91.3 °C for BBr₃ , and 210 °C for BI₃). Compound BF₃...