BORAX Article

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, , is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colourless crystals that dissolve easily in water. Boron  is a non-metallic element which never occurs in nature by itself. It mainly exists in the form of borates, compounds formed after combining with other substances, in the environment.

The term borax is used for a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystalline water content, but usually refers to the dehydrate. Commercially sold borax is usually partially dehydrated. The international IUPAC representation is given as “Sodium Tetra Borate Decahygrate”. And it density is 1.73 g/cm³. Borax is found   in crystalline form at room temperature.

                      

                           

 Chemical properties

When it comes to its chemical names and properties it is as follows, Its Formula is  Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O or can be written as Na2B4O7·10H2O. It has melting point of 743° C, and has a pretty high boiling point of  1,575° C. The international IUPAC representation is given as “Sodium Tetra Borate Decahygrate”. And it density is 1.73 g/cm³. Borax is found   in crystalline form at room temperature.
 

Physical properties :

Borax is a crystalline solid and at normal environmental temperatures it shows a number of physical properties which are as follows, the color of a piece of borax compound is clear white. It reflective properties or its luster is Vitreous which means it looks sort of like glassy. Speaking of which, its transparency of borax crystals are in a middle of transparency to semitransparency or translucent. The shape os borax crystals are triangular shape of that of a prism, its prismatic with having kind of square cross sections. The sharp division or cleavage is perfect In one direction. Borax is very light with containing a specific gravity is 1.73.It has a sweet alkaline taste.

 

The minerals that are associated with borax  are colemanite, hanksite, halite, ulixite, calcite and some other borates. The most common and notable occurrence of borax are from Boron, Death Valley, Trona, Turkey, Tibet, Andes Mountains, some localities in California. The best indication fields that can be employed for indicating borax are its color, associations, crystal habits ,its locality and it density.

History(Origination of Borax):

Borax as discovered in the ancient times and was considered as a valuable substance primarily because of its uses, by its founders. Borax was used for mummification by the Egyptions,while the Roman used it  for glass making. It was transported from Tibet to Europe in the 13^th century by Marco Polo Carvans. Borax was considered as a one of a kind and rare commodity in California in 1850s.Mining of Borax  started  in 1880s at Death Valley in California. The word Borax is an  arabic word– the Arabic is said to be from the Persian burah  a word that may have meant potassium nitrate or another fluxing agent. Another name for borax is tincal, from Sanskrit.

Natural sources:

 Borax occurs in arid regions, forming from evaporation of saline lakes. Borax is also synthetically formed as a by-product of mining operations of Borate deposits, and most of the specimens from the famous mine at Boron, California, are formed. 

  Borax mine

                                           Borax rock crushing plant to powder form.

 

Uses: From the time of its discovery till the present times the users and the scientists have managed to discover and make use of Borax in different walks of life.

Due to its chemical Properties it is a good neutron absorber and it’s used in Nuclear Reactors and spent fuel pools to reactivity or either shut down a nuclear reactor in some cases.

Borax is used in making very good buffering agent and Borate Buffers usually at pH 8 are used for preferential equilibration solution in DMP-based crosslinking reaction, it is used in swimming pool to control the pH in it. The BBS (Borate Buffered Saline) is used in coating procedure.

The major use of borax as household product is ,that it makes itself a very good cleaning and washing agent. Cleaning and washing agent for laundry, handwash ,bath, cleaning household  metallic and nonmetallic objects like car, bike, dishes.

20mule laundry powder.

                                      

It works as a very active indoor and out insecticides, ant killer and baits .

Borax has and is playing a part in the gold mining industry. It has  substituted mercury, and is being used as a favorable method for extracting gold in small scale mining facilities. This method has named as borax method and is active in Philippines.

As food additive and presevative  borax have  been used for quite a while as additive in various foods. Since  and borax are effective against yeasts, and to a much lesser extent, against moulds and bacteria, they can be used to preserve food products. In addition, borax as  additives can be used to increase the elasticity and crispiness of foods as well as prevent  darkening of shrimps.

There are several other uses of Borax from fluoride detoxification to cleaning brain cavity of a skull for mounting borax is definitely can be said is blessing in face of the earth from mother nature.