Some Important Compounds of Boron
Boron is a compound that is formed when oxygen merges with various other natural elements. It is a naturally occurring compound that is found on coal, shale, sedimentary rocks, seas and also specific soils. Another way is when rocks containing boron weather themselves out, then boron enters the atmosphere. It is also found in the form of boric acid vapour from volcanic activities, seawater and other geothermal activities. Because countries like Turkey, the USA, Argentina, Russia, Chile, Peru and China have desert areas in ample, boron is usually extracted from here.
Properties of Boron
When boron is found in its pure and crystalline form, it is a lustrous black in colour and can be used as a semiconductor. It is a non-metal with a high melting point, found in Group 13 in the periodic table, the same as aluminium. Boric acid and different kinds of borates are water-soluble and soluble in some biological fluids like blood and saliva, when their concentration is at low levels. Boron is also an allotropic element that exists in both metal and powdered forms.
What are some of the prominent borate products found in the market? They are boric acid, borax, colemanite, ulexite, sodium perborate and borax pentahydrate. Some important compounds of boron include kernite, orthoboric acid, calcium borate, borax and boron hydrides in white crystalline form.
Uses of Boron
Boron is quite a widely used element. Some of its applications are as follows -
A controlled and measured percentage of elemental boron is used to increase the sturdiness of steel.
In Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), metal borides with high isotopes of 10B are used to ingest neutrons which helps patients suffering from brain tumours.
It is used to create defensive shields.
It is also used as a semiconductor in electronic gadgets.
In manufacturing bulletproof vests and light composite material for airships, we use boron fibres because they are sturdy and light in weight.
Boric acid is one of the boron’s invaluable components and is used in mild antiseptics, tile glazers, eye drops and washing powders.
What is Aluminium?
Extracted from the earth’s crust, Aluminium (Al) is available in 8.1% on the planet which is the highest as compared to other metals. Aluminium cannot be found naturally though. It is found in cryolite and bauxite which are also known as aluminium silicates, upon processing which we get aluminium. It was in 1889, that effective techniques to extract and process aluminium was discovered. Aluminium is preferably used in industrial settings. Pure aluminium cannot be utilised even in commercial settings. In fact, there is a decrease in the usage of aluminium and its amalgams as well owing to their toxic nature.
Properties of Aluminium
Aluminium is a chemical element that is usually silvery-white in colour and quite light in weight. Remember that aluminium can be found in a combined form in almost every rock and vegetation although it is found in a pure metallic form in nature. One of the reasons why pure aluminium is not used readily is because it is weak and malleable, however commercial aluminium is quite hard, strong and durable by nature. Because aluminium as a metal is highly resistant to corrosion, we find it being utilised as a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Hence, aluminium can be utilised in various ways in different objects as per its properties. As a non-ferrous metal, aluminium is mixed with various other metals and alloys are formed and used as per requirements. Aluminium forms alloys with manganese, magnesium silicon and copper in such a way that it is able to enhance the properties of these metals.
Uses of Aluminium
Aluminium and its alloys have various uses, some of which are as follows -
Used in shaping poles, tubes, pipes, plates, wires and foils.
As a good conductor of electricity, aluminium is used in electrical transmission lines.
In factories, it used to make utensils and in the manufacturing of planes and various other automobiles because of its sturdiness and lightweight.
It is used in air-conditioners and solar conductors.
Remember how we would use aluminium foil during long journeys to wrap our food to keep it warm and fresh? That is also one of its applications in our daily lives!
It is also largely used in construction in bridges, ladders, wiring, doors, etc.
FAQs on Uses of Boron and Aluminium
1. Who was the Inventor of Aluminium Metal?
Danish chemist Hans-Christian was the first one who successfully extracted the pure form of aluminium from its ore in the year 1825. He began the process in 1824 by reacting potassium amalgam with anhydrous aluminium chloride that produced a piece of metal resembling the tin. This result he presented as a sample in 1825.
However, the famous German chemist Friedrich Wöhler is usually considered the first to obtain a pure sample of Aluminium in the year 1827 through chemical reduction. Besides, English chemist Sir Humphry Davy named this shiny metal Aluminium even though he failed to extract it.
2. What are the similarities and differences between boron and aluminium?
Firstly, boron and aluminium are in the same group because they both have a similar number of valence electrons - 3 in the outermost shell. Further, boron and aluminium both belong to group 3 and produce trivalent oxides. Thus, it leads to some related physical and chemical properties as well. Both of these elements are very useful in the production of various daily use and industrial products.
In terms of difference, boron is a non-metal and aluminium is metal. Hence, boron is a bad conductor of electricity whereas aluminium is a good conductor of electricity. Also, aluminium is more reactive as compared to boron.