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Boron is a chemical element with symbol B and atomic number 5. It is a non-metallic element and the only non-metal of the group 13 of the periodic table. Boron is electron-deficient, possessing a vacant p-orbital. It has several forms, the most common of which is amorphous boron, a dark powder, unreactive to oxygen, water, acids and alkalis. It reacts with metals to form borides. At standard temperatures boron is a poor electrical conductor but is a good conductor at high temperatures. Boron is found in the environment primarily combined with oxygen in compounds called borates. Common borate compounds include boric acid, sodium tetraborates (also referred to as borax) and boron oxide. [1,2]
