Want to know it? Who Discovered Boron
By: Want To Know It
Boron is a metalloid that is an essential plant nutrient. But who discovered boron? This post will answer that question and then tell you some interesting facts about boron!
Who Discovered Boron?
Compounds of boron have been known and used for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t until 1808 that boron was first isolated and identified as a totally unique chemical element. Sir Humphry Davy, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thenard reacted boric acid with potassium and realized they had isolated a totally new element which Davy called boracium. The name was later changed to boron.
Summary: Sir Humphry Davy, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thenard first discovered boron in 1808.
Interesting Facts About Boron
- There are 2 stable isotopes of boron (boron-10 and boron-11).
- Turkey and the United States are the world’s largest producers of boron.
- Boric acid is sometimes found in volcanic spring waters.
- Boron and its compounds are non-toxic to humans and animals (but you still can’t ingest too much). However, boron is more toxic to insects than mammals.
- Humans ingest between 2.1 and 4.3 mg of boron each day.
- B0ron exists in many different forms! It can exist as a brown powder or in a black crystalline shape which is extremely hard!
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3 Comments for Who Discovered Boron
1. shaebony | September 30th, 2010 at 1:32 am
thanks for the help
2. Erica | October 4th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Where was Boron discovered? (place? Country??)
3. Want to know it | October 5th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Erica,
Sir Humphry Davy discovered it in England and the two others discovered boron in France. Davy and the French team discovered boron at almost the same time as each other which is why all three are called the discoverers.
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