Boron

B, At. wt. 11, Sp. gr. 2.63. Discovered by GayLu ac and The nard in France, and Davy in England, 1808. It occurs in boric acid and its salts. It is made by heating the oxide with pota ium or aluminium; if the former be used the result is a greenish-brown powder, powder, if the latter, crystals are formed, harder than corundum. It is converted by strong oxidizing agents to boric acid. It is both an acid-forming and base-forming element.