Boron (B) was discovered in 1808 by chemists Gay-Lussac, Thenard, and Davy, and is obtained from borates like borax and boric acid, primarily mined in the US, Turkey, and Chile. As a metalloid, boron possesses properties of both metals and non-metals and is utilized in various applications including glass manufacturing, insecticides, and aerospace materials. Its atomic number is 5, with a high melting point making it valuable for heat-resistant alloys.