boron
/ˈbɔːrɒn
/noun [mass noun]
The chemical element of atomic number 5, a non-metallic solid. (Symbol: B) The mineral elements most likely to be deficient in vineyards are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, boron, iron, manganese, and magnesium....
- The smaller element may be a nonmetallic element, such as boron, carbon, nitrogen, or silicon.
- Zinc is in solid solution; boron, titanium and zirconium are seldom added in amounts sufficient to produce visible compounds.
Boron is usually prepared as an amorphous brown powder, but when very pure it forms hard, shiny, black crystals with semiconducting properties. The element has some specialized uses, such as in alloy steels and in nuclear control rods.
Origin
Early 19th century: from borax1, on the pattern of carbon (which it resembles in some respects).
Rhymes
- bioluminescence
- bioluminescent
- biolysis
- biolytic
- biomacromolecule
- biomagnetic
- biomagnetism
- biomagnification
- biomagnify
- biomanipulation
- biomarker
- biomass
- biomaterial
- biomathematician
- biomathematics
- biomatter
- biome
- biomechanic
- biomechanical
- biomechanically
- biomechanics
- biomechanism
- biomechanist
- biomechatronics
- biomedical