1. Metallic Appearance: Both metals and boron have a lustrous, shiny appearance, giving them a metallic look.

2. High Electrical and Thermal Conductivity: Metals and boron are good conductors of electricity and heat. This property makes them useful for various applications such as electrical wiring, thermal management, and heat sinks.

3. Malleability and Ductility: Metals like gold and silver, and to some extent boron, exhibit malleability (ability to be hammered into thin sheets) and ductility (ability to be drawn into wires). This allows them to be shaped and formed into different objects.

4. High Melting Points: Metals and boron generally have higher melting points compared to non-metallic elements. Their strong atomic bonds require more energy to break, leading to higher melting temperatures.

5. Shiny and Reflective: Both metals and boron tend to be shiny and reflective, which is due to their ability to reflect light. This characteristic contributes to their lustrous appearance.

6. Allotropy: Metals and boron exhibit allotropy, meaning they can exist in different structural forms. For example, boron can exist in amorphous and crystalline forms, while metals like iron can have different crystalline structures.

These similarities highlight the shared characteristics between metals and boron, although boron is classified as a metalloid rather than a typical metal.