boron10s

Boron-10s refers to the isotope of the element boron with a mass number of 10. This means each atom of boron-10 has 5 protons and 5 neutrons in its nucleus. Boron is a metalloid element with the chemical symbol B and atomic number 5. Naturally occurring boron is a mixture of two stable isotopes, boron-10 and boron-11, with boron-11 being the more abundant isotope.

Boron-10 has a significant neutron absorption cross-section, making it particularly useful in applications where controlling neutron flux is important. One of its primary uses is in nuclear reactors, where boron-10 compounds are employed as control rods to absorb excess neutrons and regulate the nuclear fission chain reaction. This property also makes boron-10 valuable in radiation shielding for nuclear facilities and in neutron detectors.

Beyond nuclear applications, boron-10 is a key component in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), an experimental cancer treatment. In BNCT, a boron-10-containing compound is selectively delivered to tumor cells. When irradiated with thermal neutrons, the boron-10 atoms absorb the neutrons and undergo a nuclear reaction, releasing high-energy alpha particles and lithium-7 nuclei. These particles have a very short range, effectively destroying the tumor cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The abundance and specific nuclear properties of boron-10 are crucial for its efficacy in these advanced technological and medical fields.