Preparation of elemental boron in the laboratory

The earliest routes to elemental boron involved the reduction of boric oxide with metals such as magnesium or aluminum. However, the product is almost always contaminated with borides of those metals.[citation needed] Pure boron can be prepared by reducing volatile boron halides with hydrogen at high temperatures. Ultrapure boron for use in the semiconductor industry is produced by the decomposition of diborane at high temperatures and then further purified by the zone melting or Czochralski processes. The production of boron compounds does not involve the formation of elemental boron but exploits the convenient availability of borates. The intersection of boron with biology is tiny. Consensus on it as essential for mammalian life needs to be improved. Borates have low toxicity in mammals (similar to table salt) but are more toxic to arthropods and are occasionally used as insecticides. Boron-containing organic antibiotics are known. Although only traces are required, it is an essential plant nutrient. Elemental boron is rare and poorly studied because the pure material is challenging to prepare. Most studies of "boron" involve samples that contain small amounts of carbon. The chemical behavior of boron resembles that of silicon more than aluminum. Crystalline boron is chemically inert and resistant to attack by boiling hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid. When finely divided, it is attacked slowly by hot concentrated hydrogen peroxide, hot concentrated nitric acid, hot sulfuric acid, or a hot mixture of sulfuric and chromic acids. If you are looking for high quality, high purity, and cost-effective boron, or if you require the latest price, please email contact mis-asia.