Preparation Boron is prepared in the laboratory by the action of potassium on boron oxide. Reactions Boron burns with a brilliant flame in oxygen to form boron trioxide. Boron burns in air when heated to give a mixture of boron trioxide and Boron Nitride. Boron is relatively inert and must be in a highly divided state to react with acids or alkalis. Boron is oxidised by nitric acid to boric acid.
Boron reacts with fused sodium hydroxide to form sodium borate and hydrogen.
Uses Boron is used as a deoxidiser and flux in metallurgy, in the manufacture of BoroSilicate Glass, in the bearings of turbines the form of metallic borides where hardness and resistance to corrosion is required, and in the nuclear industry as a moderator for neutrons. Detection and Analysis Boron is detected by converting the material under analysis to Borax by heating with concentrated nitric acid and then heating with concentrated sulphuric acid and ethanol to form ethyl borate, which burns with a green flame. All Rights Reserved.