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Boron is one of the few elements that seems to offer a plausible alternative to carbon as a basis for life elsewhere in the universe. Like carbon and silicon, boron has a strong tendency to form covalent molecular compounds.
What can boron be used for?
People take boron supplements as medicine. Boron is used for boron deficiency, menstrual cramps, and vaginal yeast infections. It is sometimes used for athletic performance, osteoarthritis, weak or brittle bones (osteoporosis), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific research to support these other uses.
Can life be nitrogen based?
Nitrogen is one of a handful of elements that have been suggested as alternatives to carbon as the basis of life elsewhere in the universe. Principally this is because it can form long chains at low temperatures with a liquid solvent such as ammonia (NH3) or hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
What’s special about boron?
Boron is a metalloid, intermediate between metals and non-metals. It exists in many polymorphs (different crystal lattice structures), some more metallic than others. Metallic boron is extremely hard and has a very high melting point. Boron does not generally make ionic bonds, it forms stable covalent bonds.
Where is boron found on Earth?
Boron occurs as an orthoboric acid in some volcanic spring waters, and as borates in the minerals borax and colemanite. Extensive borax deposits are found in Turkey. However, by far the most important source of boron is rasorite. This is found in the Mojave Desert in California, USA.
What are 5 uses for boron?
Applications for Boron Glass (e.g., thermally stable borosilicate glass) Ceramics (e.g., tile glazes) Agriculture (e.g., boric acid in liquid fertilizers). Detergents (e.g., sodium perborate in laundry detergent) Bleaches (e.g., household and industrial stain removers).
Should I take boron in the morning or night?
Some believe that boron supplements are best taken orally. The recommended daily intake of 3 or 6mg with dinner five hours before bed. The supplement requires that insulin be activated for the greatest effectiveness. Boron works on the principle of ‘less is more.
Is everything on earth carbon based?
Carbon is the backbone of every known biological molecule. Life on Earth is based on carbon, likely because each carbon atom can form bonds with up to four other atoms simultaneously.
Why is carbon better than silicon for life?
Q: Why is carbon better than silicon for life? Carbon bonds tend to be of the same strength, and while silicon forms a very strong and stable first bond, the others are less stable and strong.
What if humans were silicon-based?
Carbon readily bonds with oxygen, forming carbon dioxide (CO2), a small gaseous molecule that we humans exhale. Whereas silicon forms silicon dioxide (SiO2) with oxygen, which is a gigantic molecule commonly known as sand. Imagine, if we were silicon-based living organisms, we would probably be exhaling sand.
What are 3 interesting facts about boron?
Fun Boron Facts Pure boron is a dark amorphous powder. Boron has the highest melting point of the metalloids. Boron has the highest boiling point of the metalloids. The boron-10 isotope is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors and is part of the emergency shutdown systems.
What is boron’s weakness?
Boron’s power is being able to melt and mold whenever it wants. the strength to this is when a weapon is used against him , he will be able to get out of the way quickly. A weakness is if the enemy is there on time, they can uses a mechanism to catch boron in its liquid state.
What foods contain boron?
The main sources of boron in the diets of people in the United States are coffee, milk, apples, dried and cooked beans, and potatoes, primarily because people tend to consume large amounts of these foods [7,15]. Among toddlers, 38% of boron intakes comes from fruits and fruit juices and 19% from milk and cheese [6,20].
What is the main source of boron?
The primary source of both boron and borates is the mining of boron-containing minerals such as colemanite, ulexite, tincal, and kernite. Only certain deposits can be mined economically. These are located in arid regions of Turkey and the USA, and also in Argentina, Chile, Russia, China, and Peru.
Is boron man made?
Boron is a naturally occurring element. In the environment, boron is combined with oxygen and other elements in compounds called borates. There are several commercially important borates, including borax, boric acid, sodium perborate, and the minerals ulexite and colemanite.
How do you obtain boron?
Today, boron is obtained by heating borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O) with carbon, although other methods are used if high-purity boron is required. Boron is used in pyrotechnics and flares to produce a green color. Boron has also been used in some rockets as an ignition source.
Why is boron so important?
Boron is a multipurpose element. It’s a crucial nutrient for plants, an important component in the nuclear industry and the main ingredient of a bizarre fluid called oobleck. Perched next to carbon on the Periodic Table of Elements, boron is a metalloid, a substance with both metallic and nonmetallic properties.
Is boron good for joints?
Since 1963, evidence has accumulated that suggests boron is a safe and effective treatment for some forms of arthritis. The initial evidence was that boron supplementation alleviated arthritic pain and discomfort of the author.
How do humans use boron?
Boron is a mineral that is found in food and the environment. People take boron supplements as medicine. Boron is used for building strong bones, treating osteoarthritis, as an aid for building muscles and increasing testosterone levels, and for improving thinking skills and muscle coordination.
Can boron cause hair loss?
Boric acid which is sometimes used in mouthwashes may if used too often cause a gradually increasing diffuse hair loss due to high levels of boron in the system. Excessive intake of Vitamin A can cause severe hair loss as well as symptoms similar to arthritis in the joints.
Does boron make you gain weight?
Oppositely some animal researches revealed that over physiologic amounts (3mg/kg/day) of dietary boron supplementation causes weight gaining 10. Some toxicity researches expressing body weight reducing in the high boric acid intake doses.
Can boron make you tired?
Boron isn’t commonly found in multivitamins. Ask your doctor if you’d benefit from taking a boron supplement. If you do take one, watch for potential side effects of excess intake, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea.
