Boron compounds have been known for thousands of years, but the element was not discovered until 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy and by Gay-Lussac and Thenard. The element is not found free in nature, but occurs as orthoboric acid usually found in certain volcanic spring waters and as borates in boron and colemantie. Ulexite, another boron mineral, is interesting as it is nature's own version of "fiber optics."

Boron is one of the simplest of atoms. The only simpler ones are hydrogen, helium, lithium and beryllium. Boron has chemical symbol B, atomic number 5, and occurs naturally as 80% B¹¹ and 20% B¹⁰. The latter isotope has a high cross section for thermal neutron absorption, 3800 barns. Thermal neutron counters are often filled with BF₃ gas. The gamma ray from the neutron capture reaction B¹⁰(n,-)B¹¹* followed by decay of the B¹¹* to an α plus Li⁷ produces ionization which is then detected. Boron is also used in reactor control rods. This is a nuclear property of boron, and has nothing at all to do with its chemistry. The atomic weight of boron is 10.81.

Boron is found in a variety of similar minerals all related to borax, sodium tetraborate, Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O. The name comes from the Arabic buraq, "white." Borax is the same in French and German as in English, but the element is bor. In Spanish, the words are bóraxo and boro. It is a relatively rare element in the earth's crust, representing only 0.001%. In the United States, borax is found in large amounts in California, in Searles Lake brines and in the Mojave desert. It is also found in Turkey, South America and other places. The natural deposits are dried-up lake beds. Molten borax reacts with metal oxides to form borates that dissolve in the melt, so it is useful as a welding and soldering flux, and in colored enamels for iron. In fact, this was the earliest use of borax, as a pottery glaze. This same property is used for borax bead tests in chemistry, where the characteristic colors produced in a transparent borax drop melted on a loop of platinum wire in a bunsen burner flame are observed. Blue, for example, is the color of cobalt; green, of chromium. The color can differ in oxidizing (blue) and reducing (yellow) flames.

Boron enhances the body's ability to use calcium, magnesium, as well as vitamin D. It also seems to assist in brain functioning and recognition. Boron seems to prevent calcium and magnesium from being lost in the urine and may help with decreasing menstrual pain by increasing the oestradiol level, which is a very active type of estrogen. People have also reported the reduction of arthritis symptoms with an intake of Boron.

A shortage of Boron might negatively influence the balance of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus resulting in bone loss, and increasing the risk of arthritis and elevated blood pressure.

Oral doses greater than 100 mg/day may cause: dermatitis, diarrhea, disturbances in digestion, lethargy, nausea, vomiting. Ingesting Boron-containing preparations have resulted in dryness of the skin and digestive upsets, but low dose supplements have shown no toxic effect yet. Best taken with manganese, calcium and Vitamin B2 (remember you need Vitamin B6 with Vitamin B2).

Prunes, dates, raisins and honey, nuts, fresh fruit such as grapes and pears, green leafy vegetables and beans are good sources or Boron.