The chemical formula of borax is Na2B4O7·10H2O.
Physical Properties of Borax:
| Properties |
Details |
| Appearance |
White crystalline solid |
| Boiling Point |
Decomposes at high temperatures |
| Crystal Structure |
Monoclinic |
| Density |
1.73 g/cm³ |
| Electrical Conductivity |
Poor conductor of electricity |
| Hardness |
2 – 2.5 (Mohs scale) |
| Melting Point |
741 °C (1,366 °F) |
| Odor |
Odorless |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water |
| Thermal Conductivity |
Low thermal conductivity |
| Transparency |
Transparent to translucent |
Chemical Properties of Borax:
| Properties |
Details |
| Chemical Formula |
Na2B4O7·10H2O (Sodium borate decahydrate) |
| pH |
Alkaline (pH ~9) |
| Hygroscopicity |
It readily absorbs moisture from the air. |
| Decomposition |
Decomposes when heated, releasing water and forming sodium metaborate, anhydrous borax, and boric acid. |
| Reactivity with Acids |
Reacts with acids to form boric acid and a corresponding salt. |
| Reaction with Metals |
Can form complexes with certain metals, such as borax bead test for identification of metal ions. |
| Flame Color Test |
Gives a green flame color when heated in a flame due to the presence of boron. |
| Reducing Agent |
It acts as a reducing agent in certain chemical reactions. |
| Complex Formation |
Can form complexes with various compounds and ions. |
| Glass Formation |
Borax is used in glass production as a flux to lower the melting point and improve the glass quality. |
Reaction of borax with Alkali Metal
| Alkali Metal |
Reaction with Borax |
| Lithium (Li) |
2 Li + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaLiB4O7 + H2 ↑ |
| Sodium (Na) |
2 Na + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 4 Na2B4O7 + H2↑ |
| Potassium (K) |
2 K + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 KNaB4O7 + H2 ↑ |
| Rubidium (Rb) |
2 Rb + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 RbNaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Cesium (Cs) |
2 Cs + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 CsNaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Francium (Fr) |
2 Fr + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 FrNaB4O7 + H2↑ |
Reaction of borax with Alkaline Earth Metal
| Alkaline Earth Metal |
Reaction with Borax |
| Beryllium (Be) |
2 Be + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaBeB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Magnesium (Mg) |
2 Mg + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaMgB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Calcium (Ca) |
2 Ca + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaCaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Strontium (Sr) |
2 Sr + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaSrB4O7 + H2 ↑ |
| Barium (Ba) |
2 Ba + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaBaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Radium (Ra) |
2 Ra + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaRaB4O7 + H2↑ |
Reaction of borax with Transition Metal
| Transition Metal |
Reaction with Borax |
| Iron (Fe) |
Fe + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaFeB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Copper (Cu) |
2 Cu + Na2B4O7.10H2O → 2 NaCuB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Zinc (Zn) |
Zn + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaZnB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Nickel (Ni) |
2 Ni + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaNiB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Cobalt (Co) |
Co + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaCoB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Chromium (Cr) |
Cr + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaCrB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Manganese (Mn) |
3 Mn + 2 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 3 Na2MnB4O7 + 2 H2↑ |
| Titanium (Ti) |
2 Ti + 3 Na2B4O7.10H2O → 2 Na2TiB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Vanadium (V) |
2 V + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 Na2VB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Molybdenum (Mo) |
3 Mo + 4 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 Na6Mo2B8O27 + 4 H2↑ |
| Tungsten (W) |
W + 4 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4W2B12O31 + 4 H2↑ |
| Silver (Ag) |
Ag + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaAgB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Gold (Au) |
2 Au + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 Na3AuB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
Reaction of borax with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal |
Reaction with Borax |
| Aluminum (Al) |
2 Al + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 3 NaAlB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Magnesium (Mg) |
Mg + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaMgB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Calcium (Ca) |
Ca + Na2B4O7·10H2O → NaCaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Sodium (Na) |
2 Na + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 4 Na2B4O7 + H2↑ |
| Potassium (K) |
2 K + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 KNaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Lithium (Li) |
2 Li + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaLiB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Beryllium (Be) |
2 Be + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaBeB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Barium (Ba) |
2 Ba + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaBaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Strontium (Sr) |
2 Sr + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaSrB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Radium (Ra) |
2 Ra + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaRaB4O7 + H2↑ |
| Aluminum (Al) |
2 Al + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 3 NaAlB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Gallium (Ga) |
2 Ga + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaGaB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Indium (In) |
2 In + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaInB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
| Thallium (Tl) |
2 Tl + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 NaTlB4O7 + 3 H2↑ |
Reaction of borax with Non-Metal
| Non-Metal |
Reaction with Borax |
| Hydrogen (H) |
2 H2 + Na2B4O7·10H2O → 4 NaBO2 + 9 H2O |
| Carbon (C) |
C + 2 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na2B4O7+ Na2CO3 + CO2 ↑ + 10 H2O |
| Nitrogen (N) |
4 NH4 + Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na2B4O7 + 4 NaOH + 8 H2O + N2 ↑ |
| Oxygen (O) |
4 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 2 Na2B8O13 + 13 H2O + 3 O2 ↑ |
| Phosphorus (P) |
2 P4 + 15 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 14 NaBO2+ Na3PO4 + 30 H2O |
| Sulfur (S) |
8 S + 15 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 15 NaBO2+ Na2S2O3 + 30 H2O |
| Fluorine (F) |
2 F2 + 4 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 8 NaBO2+ 2 NaBF4 + 20 H2O + O2 ↑ |
| Chlorine (Cl) |
4 Cl2 + 8 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 16 NaBO2+ 2 Na2B6O10Cl2 + 40 H2O + O2 ↑ |
| Bromine (Br) |
4 Br2 + 8 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 16 NaBO2+ 2 Na2B6O10Br2 + 40 H2O + O2 ↑ |
| Iodine (I) |
4 I2 + 8 Na2B4O7·10H2O → 16 NaBO2+ 2 Na2B6O10I2 + 40 H2O + O2 ↑ |
Reaction of borax with Metalloid
| Metalloid |
Reaction with Borax |
| Boron (B) |
2 B + 3 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na2B4O7 + 6 NaBO2+ 6 H2 ↑ |
| Silicon (Si) |
2 Si + Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4SiO4 + 5 NaBO2+ 10 H2↑ |
| Germanium (Ge) |
2 Ge + Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4GeO4 + 5 NaBO2+ 10 H2↑ |
| Arsenic (As) |
2 As + 5 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4AsO4 + 5 NaBO2+ 10 H2↑ |
| Antimony (Sb) |
2 Sb + 5 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4SbO4 + 5 NaBO2+ 10 H2↑ |
| Tellurium (Te) |
2 Te + 5 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4TeO4 + 5 NaBO2+ 10 H2↑ |
| Polonium (Po) |
2 Po + 5 Na2B4O7·10H2O → Na4PoO4 + 5 NaBO2 + 10 H2↑ |
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