Many
chemicals are used by humans in a wide variety of industries. Borax also belongs to them. It is used in industry, agriculture, technology, medicine, everyday life, etc. What is borax? This mineral, also called tincal or sodium borate, has unique properties.
General information
So what is a borax? This substance crystallizes in a monosymmetric system. By its appearance, it resembles the columns of augite. Translated from Persian, its name means "white." A transparent borax, the use of which is possible after careful processing of the crystals, is practically colorless or slightly grayish. It is characterized by a greasy sheen and a sweetish-alkaline taste. The substance is soluble in water. For this, as a rule, 14 parts of water are taken per 1 part of tincal. The melting point of the mineral in question is 60.8 ° C. When melted with a blowtorch, the fire turns yellow, and the substance itself turns into colorless glass.
The chemical composition of borax
Let's look at what borax is in terms of chemistry. The formula of the substance is: Na 2 B 4 O 7. Most often it exists as crystalline hydrate Na 2 B 4 O 7 • 10H 2 O, which corresponds to 16% sodium, 37% boric acid and 47% water. Borax is the raw material for the compounds contained in it. The quality of the substance is controlled by GOST 8429-77. Sodium tetraborate (borax) is on sale as a white crystalline powder, the quality of which depends on various chemical elements and the degree of purification. The product can be of two grades: A (mass fraction of borax is at least 99.5%) and B (94%). It also contains carbonates, sulfates, lead and arsenic.
Borax mining and production
This substance is most often extracted in natural conditions. What is borax in the broad sense of the word? This mineral belongs to the class of borates. It is a chemical precipitate of drying out salt lakes. In Europe, the substance in question first appeared after it was discovered in Tibetan salt lakes. It is from there that its other name comes - tinkal. Some California shallow lakes are rich in brown, where fairly large crystals are mined. On sale you can find technical and food sodium tetraborate.
In 1748, the French chemist Enouville first received a borax from boric acid and soda. And nowadays, some enterprises are engaged in the production of artificial sodium tetraborate decahydrate. Do-it-yourself borax can be obtained by neutralizing the acid with boric sodium carbonate, followed by evaporation of the mixture and filtering. This process is based on such a chemical reaction: Na 2 C0 3 + 4H 3 BO 3 = 6H 2 O + CO 2 + Na 2 B 4 0 7 . A solution of soda is prepared in a container and heated to 95-100 ° C, stirring constantly. Then boric acid is poured there. So that the solution does not foam, it is added in small portions. The ratio between the components should be such that the solution contains 16-20% Na 2 B 4 0 7 and 0.5-1.0% Na 2 C0 3 . The mixture is boiled for 30 minutes, filtered and cooled to obtain crystals. An artificial chemical mineral is different from natural rhombohedral crystals and contains less water. It can only be used for technical and medical purposes.
Borax: industrial applications
The technical use of this substance is quite diverse. Borax is a component of fluxes for welding metals, including precious ones. As part of the charge, it is used in the production of glass, enamels, glazes, since it is an indispensable source of boron oxide. It is used for the manufacture of antiseptics, insecticides and as a preservative during the processing of leather raw materials. Borax is needed to produce electrolytes in metallurgy.
Tincal is the feedstock in the manufacture of sodium perborate, which is the main oxygen-containing whitening component in synthetic detergent powders. To improve the cleaning properties and maintain the necessary viscosity, acidity, imparting the ability to form emulsions, sodium tetraborate is included in household and industrial cleaning products, polishes and polishes. Buru is used for the manufacture of lubricants, brake fluids; It is also indispensable in the production of antifreeze, since it, interacting with iron, forms a complex anti-corrosion compound. It is also used in the manufacturing process of various adhesives.
The use of borax in everyday life
This mineral has long been used by people as a natural detergent. Ground drill is used to efficiently clean plumbing. Want your toilet to shine? Not a question: it will be enough to pour 1 cup of ground mineral into it and leave it overnight. Having cleaned the plumbing in the morning with a brush, you can remove almost any difficult to remove dirt. As a detergent, an aqueous solution of borax is used (2 tsp. Per 0.5 l of liquid).
This unique substance can be used to combat fleas and cockroaches. So, at the place of accumulation of parasites, borax powder is periodically poured. You can not worry about the vapors: in small quantities it does not harm people and animals.
To combat mold, prepare a thick paste of water and borax. It is smeared on a moldy surface and left for 12-24 hours. The dried paste is swept away with a brush, and the residue is washed off with water. This product is suitable only for relatively waterproof surfaces. In addition, borax is used together with starch for processing collars and cuffs. It is also used when washing things made of wool (1 tsp. Per 1 liter of water). What for? Very simple: to give products softness.
Medical use
Sodium tetraborate is used as an antiseptic for rinsing, douching, treating the skin and oral cavity. For this, glycerol (20%) or aqueous solutions of borax are used. Alcohol solutions do not exist, since the substance is insoluble in alcohol. Borax should be stored in a tightly sealed container and out of the reach of children, since in large quantities and high concentration it can be harmful to health.