oxidants	+3	B2O3, BCl3	reductants
	0	B

Boron has one important positive oxidation state (+3). Thus elemental boron reacts as a reductant to give B(III).


The oxidation state of second element in binary compounds formed by reaction of boron with other nonmetals depends on the group in which the nonmetal is found.
 

with Group 15 elements N2 N3- P P3–	with Group 16 elements O2 O2– S S2–
with Group 17 elements X2 X– (X= F, Cl, Br, I)	The resulting compound has overall charge of zero.

Boron(III) compounds react with reductants such as hydrogen or metals to produce elemental boron.

Boron(III) halides are, unlike the Group 1 and 2 metal halides, molecular due to covalent bonding between B(III) and the halogen. Typical of this type of halide, they react with water to give a product containing B(III). The form which this product takes depends on pH of the final mixture.
 

B2O3 BCl3

H2O

B(OH)3 (in acid or at pH 7)

OH–

B(OH)4– (at high pH)