Boron vs Carbon

Side-by-side comparison of Boron (B, element 5) and Carbon (C, element 6) by atomic structure and physical properties.

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PropertyB Boron C Carbon
Atomic number56
SymbolBC
NameBoronCarbon
Categorymetalloidnonmetal
Standard Atomic Weight10.8135 u12.0106 u
Period22
Group1314
Blockpp
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Electron configuration[He]2s22p1[He]2s22p2
Oxidation states[-5, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3][-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
Electronegativity (Pauling)2.042.55
Electron affinity0.27972 eV1.2621 eV
Density2370 kg/m³2267 kg/m³
Melting point2074.85 °C3549.85 °C
Boiling point3999.85 °C3824.85 °C
Discovery year18081797

Key Differences

PropertyB BoronC Carbon
Standard Atomic Weight10.8135 u ↓ lower12.0106 u ↑ higher
Density2370 kg/m³ ↑ higher2267 kg/m³ ↓ lower
Melting point2074.85 °C ↓ lower3549.85 °C ↑ higher
Boiling point3999.85 °C ↑ higher3824.85 °C ↓ lower
Electronegativity (Pauling)2.04 ↓ lower2.55 ↑ higher
Electron affinity0.27972 eV ↓ lower1.2621 eV ↑ higher
Group13 14
Categorymetalloid nonmetal
Electron configuration[He]2s22p1 [He]2s22p2
Discovery year1808 1797