History
Compounds of boron (Arabic Buraq from Persian Burah from Turkish Bor) have been known for thousands of years. In early Egypt, mummification depended upon an ore known as natron, which contained borates as well as some other common salts. Borax glazes were used in China from 300 AD, and boron compounds were used in glassmaking in ancient Rome.
In 1808 the element was isolated to about 50 percent purity by the reduction of boric acid with sodium or magnesium by Sir Humphry Davy, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, and Louis Jacques Thenard, although they did not recognize the substance as an element. It was Jöns Jakob Berzelius in 1824 who actually identified boron as an element. Most researchers agree that the first pure boron was produced by the American chemist W. Weintraub in 1909.
Derived from boron, borates are found in everything from face creams to laundry detergent to fertilizers – even in cancer treatments. Borates have been in use for thousands of years. Egyptians used borates in the mummification process. During the 1800s, borate miners enjoyed unexpected protection from pests. Rare blue diamonds like the Hope Diamond get their color from traces of boron. In the 17th century, Antonio Stradivari used borates in the manufacture of his famous violins and other instruments to preserve the wood and improve instrument tone. Borates have a long and successful history of usage spanning more than 50 years in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. And borates occur naturally in water, fruits, vegetables and forage crops.
