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Element 5 - Boron (B)
From borax and carbon; discovered 1808. A nonmetal, born is best known in borax (sodium borate) and in boric acid--the one acid that is good for the eyes. About a million tons of boron are used in industry each year. In agriculture it serves as both a plant food and a weed killer.
Properties
Atomic Number
:
5
Atomic Weight
:
10.811
Electron Configuration
(at ground state):
1s
2
2s
2
2p
1
Oxidation States
(Bold most stable):
+3
Boiling Point
(K):
4275
Melting Point (K):
2365
Density
(at 300K -- g/cm
3
):
2.34
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm
3
/mol)
4.60
Number of stable
isotopes
:
2
Covalent Radius (Å):
0.82
Atomic Radius (Å):
0.98
First
Ionization Potential
(V):
8.298
Electronegativity
(Pauling's):
2.04
Specific Heat
Capacity (at 300K -- J g
-1
K
-1
):
1.026
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol):
507.8
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol):
22.6
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 10
6
-1
cm
-1
):
5 x 10
-12
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m
-1
K
-1
):
27.0
Crystal Structure:
Rhombohedral
Acid
-
Base
Properties:
Slightly acidic