Barb Girvin, age 11, of Phoenix, Arizona, for her question:

Is boron related to borax?

Boron is a chemical element. Borax is a chemical compound of boron, sodium and oxygen, plus a percentage of water. Boron has atomic number S, atomic weight 10.811 and since it is an element all its atoms are alike. Boron is a non metallic element somewhat similar to silicon. It is a brownish, powdery substance. But in this pure form it is not found in nature. Compounds o€ boron and calcium or boron and sodium are usually found where water has evaporated from ancient seas and salt lakes. The world's most abundant deposits are in the desert regions of California.

This is where we find vast deposits of borax, alias sodium borate. It is a very soft, light weight mineral and unless it is mixed with impurities its natural color is chalky white. Jagged chunks of borax, made of clusters of smooth sided crystals, are often found on the ground. Crusty layers and beds of borax occur on and below the surface. Countless tons of this useful mineral are mined every year    and just one of those mines in California is said to have enough borax to supply the world for 100 years. The element boron also is useful    but the only way we can get it is by extracting it from boron compounds, such as borax.