Boric acid is a single base Lewis acid with the chemical formula H3BO3. This acid contains four oxygen atoms, one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms. Boric acid is also known as boric acid, hydrogen borate, boracic acid and orthoboric acid. It is a weak acid and has antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties. Boric acid is soluble in water and has no distinct odor. Under standard conditions, the compound is available either as a colorless crystal or as a white powder. Boric acid can be prepared by reacting borax with hydrochloric acid. Wilhelm Homberg was arguably the first to make boric acid from borax.
Properties of boric acid
- Chemical formula: BH3O3
- Molar mass: 61/83 grams per mole
- Appearance: White crystalline solid
- Density: 1.435 g / cm3
- Melting point: 170.9 ° C (339.6 ° F; 444.0 kg)
- Boiling point: 300 ° C (572 ° F; 573 ° C)
- Solubility in water: 2.52 g per 100 ml (0 ° C)
*72 g per 100 ml (20 ° C)
*7 g per 100 ml (25 ° C)
*10 g per 100 ml (80 ° C)
*53 g per 100 ml (100 ° C) - Solubility in other solvents: Soluble in lower alcohols
- In pyridine: Medium soluble
- In acetone: very little soluble
Technical specifications of Boric Acid
Chemical specification
| Content | Component |
| 56.25-56.90% | B2O3 |
| 99.92-101.07% | Equivalent H3BO3 |
| 300 ppm max | SO4 |
| 5 ppm max | Cl |
| 4 ppm max | Fe |
Particle size specification
| content | Size |
| 4.00% max | +1.000 mm |
| 4.00% max | -0.063mm |
Applications of boric acid
Boric acid is used in many chemical products as a disinfectant, insecticide, flame retardant, neutron absorber or precursor.
Some of them are:
1. Disinfectant and Pharmaceutical / Laboratory / Detergent / Manufacture of various fiberglass production / Leather production / Welding / Lubricant / Agriculture / Insecticide
Nuclear power plants / Green fire production / Cosmetics production / Seafood preserver
Other uses:
- It is used in making textile fiberglass
- Used in the production of flat plates
- Used to neutralize active hydrofluoric acid
- Used by blacksmiths as a welding flux
- It is used in plating
- Used in the jewelry industry
- Used in making putty
- Used in carrom plates as a dry lubricant
- Used to preserve grains such as wheat and rice
- Known for regulating the viscosity and rheology of drilling fluid that is pumped at high pressures in wells
- Boric acid is common in the list of chemical additives used to break hydraulics (also called fracking).
- This compound is also used as a crosslinking agent and gel in combination with guar gum
- In the jewelry industry, boric acid is often used in combination with denatured alcohol to reduce surface oxidation and create a scale of fire on metals during annealing and soldering operations.
- Boric acid is used in the production of glass in LCD flat panel displays.
- Boric acid, mixed with borax (sodium tetraborate deck hydrate) in a weight ratio of 4: 5, is highly soluble in water, although not individually soluble. This solution is used as a wood fire retardant due to saturation.
- Also in the construction of the Reming mass, a fine powder containing silica is used, which is used to produce induction furnace and ceramic liners.
- It is used to regulate the pH of the pools and prevents the destruction of the pool wall and the acidification of the water.
Boric acid reactions:
Boric acid is a clear, colorless crystal. It is a very weak monobasic acid and accepts hydroxyl ions instead of protons.
B (OH) 3 + 2H2O ↔ H3O + + [B (OH) 4] –
Reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium metabolites and sodium tetraborate.
NaOH + H3BO3 → NaBO2 + 2H2O
2NaOH + 4H3BO3 → Na2B4O7 + 7H2O
Uses of boric acid at home
Cleaning / pest control / medical uses
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