The Boron Family

● This family includes: Boron, Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, and Thallium.

Boron (B)

Physical Properties of Boron

● Boron is a shiny, black metalloid

● Metalloids have both the properties of a metal and a non-metal

● It a poor conductor of electricity at low temperatures but a great conductor of electricity at high temperatures

● It is a pure substance meaning it is made up of one type of atom

Physical Properties of Boron

● It has a high melting point ranging from 2200 to 2300 degrees Celsius

● When it is a solid, boron can be as hard diamonds

● Even though it is very hard, it is still too fragile for useful purposes

Chemical Properties of Boron

●Boron can combine with oxygen to form boron trioxide (B2O3)●When it is in powder form, it reacts with hot nitric acid (HNO3) and hot sulfuric acid (H2SO4)●It also dissolves in molten metal

Aluminum (Al)

Physical Properties of Aluminum

● Aluminum is soft, lightweight, silvery, metal

● It is a great conductor of electricity

● It has a melting point of 660 degrees Celsius

● It has a boiling point ranging between 2327- 2450 degrees Celsius

● Its density is 2.708 grams per cubic centimeter

Physical Properties of Aluminum

● It is both ductile and malleable

● Ductile means “capable of being pulled into thin wires”

● Malleable means “capable of being hammered into thin sheets”

Chemical Properties of Aluminum

● In moist air, it gradually combines with oxygen to form aluminum oxide

● Reacts with many hot acids and alkalis

● Alkalis is a chemical with the opposite properties of an acid

● Aluminum also reacts with hot water and in powdered form, it catches on fire

Gallium (Ga)

Physical Properties of Gallium

● Gallium is soft, silvery, shiny metal

● Conductor of electricity

● But unlike a regular metal, it is so soft it can melt in the palm of your bare hand

● It has a very low melting point at 29.7 degrees Celsius

Physical Properties of Gallium

● Gallium can be cooled really easily into a solid but it can still be cooled below 29.7 degrees Celsius without turning into a solid

Chemical Properties of Gallium

● Gallium can combine with most non-metals at high temperatures

● It reacts to both acids and alkalis

Indium (In)

Physical Properties of Indium

● Indium is a silvery, shiny metal

● Conductor of electricity

● Has a density of 7.31 grams per centimeter

● It is so soft, if rubbed on paper, it leaves a mark like lead

● It generates a brief screech when bent

● Has a melting point of 156.6 degrees Celsius

Physical Properties of Indium

● It has a boiling point of 2075 degrees Celsius

● Even though at really low temperatures, gallium can still be very soft. This property allows gallium to be used below the temperatures of Absolute Zero

Thallium (Tl)

Physical Properties of Thallium

● Thallium is a bluish-white metal

● Thallium resembles lead and can be used like lead too

● It is also soft enough to be cut with a knife

● It can melt fairly easily and has a melting point of 302 degrees Celsius

● Has a boiling point of 1456 degrees Celsius

● It also has a density of 11.85 grams per centimeter

Chemical Properties of Thallium

● Thallium reacts with acids

● It also reacts with oxygen too and when exposed to air, it forms a thin coating of thallium oxide (TL2O)

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!!

By John and Khadija

… And Robert