Borax
A species of Minerals, Also known as Borate of soda, Prismatic borax-salt, Tinkar Scientific name : Borax RockType : Minerals
Borax, A species of Minerals
Also known as:
Borate of soda, Prismatic borax-salt, Tinkar
Scientific name: Borax
RockType: Minerals
Content
Description General Info
Description
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is a compound with formula Na2H4B4O9•nH2O or, more precisely, [Na•(H2O)m]2 [B4O5(OH)4]. The formula is often improperly written as Na2B4O7•(n+2)H2O, reflecting an older incorrect understanding of the anion's molecular structure. The name may refer to any of a number of closely related boron-containing mineral or chemical compounds that differ in their water of crystallization content. The most commonly encountered one is the octahydrate Na2H4B4O9•8H2O or [Na(H2O)4]2 [B4O5(OH)4] (or Na2B4O7•10H2O, the "decahydrate", in the older notation). It is a colorless crystalline solid that dissolves in water. Borax is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound, in the manufacture of fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, as a cross-linking agent in slime, as an alkali in photographic developers, as a precursor for other boron compounds, and is useful as an insecticide (similarly to boric acid). In artisanal gold mining, borax is sometimes used as part of a process (as a flux) meant to eliminate the need for toxic mercury in the gold extraction process, although it cannot directly replace mercury. Borax was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the Philippines in the 1900s. Borax was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th century AD. Borax first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith's Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the 20 Mule Team Borax trademark, named for the method by which borax was originally hauled out of the California and Nevada deserts.
Physical Properties
Colors
Colourless, grey, white, yellowish, seldom bluish or greenish; colourless in transmitted light.
Chemical Properties
Formula
Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Elements listed
B, H, Na, O
General Info
Usage
Medicinal Anti-fungal foot soak Treatment for thrush in horses' hoofs Is found in some commercial vitamin supplements Other Ingredient in enamel glazes Component of glass, pottery, and ceramics Used as an additive in ceramic slips and glazes to improve fit on wet, greenware, and bisque Fire retardant Anti-fungal compound for cellulose insulation Moth proofing 10% solution for wool Pulverized for the prevention of stubborn pests (e.g. German cockroaches) in closets, pipe and cable inlets, wall panelling gaps, and inaccessible locations where ordinary pesticides are undesirable Precursor for sodium perborate monohydrate that is used in detergents, as well as for boric acid and other borates Tackifier ingredient in casein, starch and dextrin based adhesives Precursor for boric acid, a tackifier ingredient in polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol based adhesives To make indelible ink for dip pens by dissolving shellac into heated borax Curing agent for snake skins Curing agent for salmon eggs, for use in sport fishing for salmon Swimming pool buffering agent to control pH Neutron absorber, used in nuclear reactors and spent fuel pools to control reactivity and to shut down a nuclear chain reaction As a micronutrient fertilizer to correct boron-deficient soils. Preservative in taxidermy To color fires with a green tint Was traditionally used to coat dry-cured meats such as hams to improve the appearance and discourage flies. For stopping car radiator and engine block leaks Used by blacksmiths in forge welding Used as a woodworm treatment (diluted in water) Used as an insecticide in some ant baits. It kills ants slowly, allowing the ants time to bring the poison back to the colony, killing the queen and eventually the entire colony. Deodorizer for carpets, sprinkle on and leave for a while and vacuum it up
Composition
The term borax is often used for a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content: anhydrous sodium tetraborate, Na2B4O7 sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, Na2B4O7·5H2O sodium tetraborate decahydrate, Na2B4O7·10H2O or equivalently the octahydrate, Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O From the chemical perspective, borax contains the [B4O5(OH)4] ion. In this structure, there are two four-coordinate boron centers and two three-coordinate boron centers.