Boron in History

Characteristic X-radiation Z Element Ka keV X-ray radiation absorbed by the element Incoming radiation energy Absorption coefficient p (cm /g)  

Neutron absorption Thermal neutron capture cross section 761 barns 

Willem Homberg was born on the island of Java, where his father worked for the Dutch East India Company. Back in Amsterdam, Willem had the possibility of studying in different European seats of learning. In Wiirtenberg he became a doctor of medicine. He worked with Robert Boyle in England, and went to see mines in Germany and Sweden. At the end of his life, he lived in Paris and died there in 1715. 

Macquer (see Chapter 11 Sodium and Potassium) asserted in the middle of the 18 century that borax contains an alkali of the same type that is found in sea water (cited from Mary Weeks)  

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