Boron Properties - What are the Physical Properties of Boron? What are the Physical Properties of Boron? The Physical properties of Boron are the characteristics that can be observed without changing the substance into another substance. Physical properties are usually those that can be observed using our senses such as color, luster, freezing point, boiling point, melting point, density, hardness and odor. Boron is allotropic and exists as a powder or a metal-like substance. Its color ranges from a dark brown to black powder or a jet-black to silver-gray metal-like element. Its crystalline form is very hard, lustrous, but brittle. All forms of boron have very high melting points. Boron is a good electrical conductor at high temperatures and a poor conductor at low temperatures. Boron Properties - What are the Chemical Properties of Boron? What are the Chemical Properties of Boron? They are the characteristics that determine how it will react with other substances or change from one substance to another. The better we know the nature of the substance the better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties are only observable during a chemical reaction. Reactions to substances may be brought about by changes brought about by burning, rusting, heating, exploding, tarnishing etc. The chemical reactivity of boron depends on its form. The crystalline form is far less reactive than the powder form. The powder is oxidized slowly in air at room temperature and ignites spontaneously at high temperatures to form an oxide. The crystalline form is oxidized only very slowly, even at higher temperatures. Boron forms compounds with oxygen, hydrogen, the halogens, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. Facts and Info about Boron Properties This article on Boron properties provide facts and information about the physical and chemical properties of Boron which are useful as homework help for chemistry students. Additional facts and information regarding the Periodic Table and the elements may be accessed via the Periodic Table Site Map. |