Small bags of boric acid for only 50 rubles were seen by many at the pharmacy. But why can they be used? This substance is mainly used as an antiseptic. But, in addition to this, boric acid can serve in many other areas: from fire fighting to the destruction of pests in homes.
What it is
Boric acid, or, otherwise, orthoboric acid, is a substance with weak acidic properties. That is, unlike sulfuric acid, it is impossible to get burned only by touching it slightly. But this does not mean that it is safe.
Outwardly, it is a crystalline white powder, which does not have its own taste and smell. Easily soluble in water, but in warm it happens faster. With slow heating it turns into metaboric acid, and with fast heating it turns into boron oxide.
It is found in nature in the form of the Sassolin mineral, which is mined in lagoons of volcanic origin and near extinct volcanoes. But its reserves in nature are quite limited. And therefore, the vast majority of boric acid is produced artificially by mixing sodium tetraborate with hydrochloric acid.
Release form
In pharmacies, boric acid can be purchased in three forms:
- crystalline powder;
- ointment;
- alcohol solution for external use.
Pure boric acid is sold in powder form. But in this form it cannot be applied to the skin, it is necessary to prepare a solution, the proportions of which depend on the scope. In the case of an alcohol solution, there is only 0.3 g of boric acid, and the rest is ethyl alcohol and excipients. That is, it is a ready-to-use solution. The ointment contains 5% acid and petroleum jelly, suitable for rubbing into the skin.
In medicine
No wonder boric acid is sold in a pharmacy. It is actively used as an antiseptic, antiparasitic and antifungal agent. Therefore, boric acid in powder, boric ointment or alcohol solution can be used as a fight against the following diseases:
- pediculosis;
- fungal skin diseases;
- otitis;
- skin eczema;
- pyoderma,
- diaper rash.
An alcohol solution is needed to treat otitis media, as it will create additional heat.
The use of boric acid in the ear looks like this:
- Lie on one side, drip 3 drops from a pipette into a sore ear.
- So lie down for about 15 minutes.
- Cover your sore ear with cotton.
- Repeat the procedure 4 times a day.
If the acid is used to treat conjunctivitis, then it should be an exclusively aqueous solution of boric acid in a ratio of 2 parts of powder to 100 parts of water. With this solution, you need to rinse the sore eye.
Boric ointment is used to treat lice. You need to apply it on dry dirty hair and cover them with a plastic bag. After 2 hours, comb out the ointment along with dead parasites and their nits. Yes, now there are many more effective and safer products, but none of them can be compared with boron ointment at a price.
It can be applied exclusively externally, without getting on the mucous membranes. And for pregnant women and children under 3 years of age, boric acid is contraindicated even for external use. Since the harm that it can cause to the formation of the fetus and the reproductive system is proven. As well as people with kidney diseases, boric acid is contraindicated because of its long-term elimination from the body.
Today it is worth thinking about the ratio of the harm of acid to the body and the benefits it brings. For example, for boric acid to work, its minimum concentration of 2% is needed, but potassium permanganate and Furacilin are needed only 0.01%, but chlorhexidine is the most modern antiseptic - it is only 0.005% effective.
In the chemical industry
There is also technical boric acid. It is widely used in chemical laboratories. On its basis, combined preparations are often made. She is involved in the process of nickel plating of metals. And also it is used in the composition of buffer solutions. Here are some more options for its use in the chemical industry:
- manufacture of paints and glazes for ceramics;
- metallurgy;
- electrotype;
- paraffin making;
- nuclear power;
- woodworking compounds;
- manufacturing surfactants.
Boric acid is also used in the manufacture of glass, fiberglass and ceramics on an industrial scale. Thanks to it, the glass becomes stronger and does not delaminate, which is due to a decrease in the melting temperature.
Fire retardant properties
More recently, the flame retardant properties of boric acid and sodium tetraborate, or simply borax, have been discovered. Using solutions based on these substances is much easier to extinguish fires.
This is due to the fact that a solution of boric acid or borax prevents the ingress of oxygen to the burning site, which negates the fire. But even if combustion continues to occur, much less harmful combustible fumes are released due to the storm or acid, but only carbon. Therefore, these substances are also used actively in professional fire fighting.
Food industry
Here it is known as food supplement E284. Used as a preservative for perishable animal products or fermentation products such as beer or kvass. But in Russia it is banned for use in food, as it is officially recognized as toxic to the human body. But outwardly in Russia they continue to use it.
But in the EU countries, canning powders are freely sold, which, along with spices, include boric acid. Despite this, it is worth remembering that when used internally, the drug accumulates in the body and in large quantities can cause difficulty in the work of the kidneys of the heart and abnormal development of the fetus in pregnant women.
Ingestion
Strict adherence to the instructions for boric acid. Neglect of this is fraught with dangerous consequences for both health and life in general. And this is despite the fact that boric acid is not a highly toxic substance.
Do not allow prolonged contact with it, much less getting inside in its pure form. If it enters in large quantities inside or on the mucous membrane, poisoning with boric acid occurs. Its consequence will be the following manifestations:
- vomiting
- diarrhea;
- cramps
- ulcers.
If an amount of 2 to 20 g is ingested, it can even be fatal. Such a strong fluctuation in the amount of lethal dose is associated with individual characteristics of the body, such as age, weight, and human health.
In the fight against cockroaches
The use of boric acid from cockroaches and ants is also notorious. This is perhaps the most famous folk insecticide. To make it at home, you need to prepare a bait for insects so that they eat it. Although this acid has no smell or taste for humans, it repels insects with a smell. Therefore, it is necessary to disguise it. A boric acid recipe as a home insecticide looks like this:
- luring substance (egg, honey or sugar) - 2 tablespoons;
- a bag of boric acid;
- 1 tbsp. tablespoons of flour;
- a couple of drops of oil (to discourage the smell of boron).
You need to mix these ingredients and roll lumps from the resulting dough, and then lay them out in secluded places in the apartment. Insects will eat them and receive a lethal dose of boric acid. It affects the nervous system of insects, which makes their continued existence impossible.
If you call a sanitary and epidemiological station, then for free it will treat the room with nothing more than a solution of boric acid. More modern and expensive insecticides are already used by private companies. The undoubted advantage of this method is the low cost of boric acid and its easy availability. But, unfortunately, many modern insects have already developed a stable immunity to this remedy.
Application in the agricultural industry
Another area of ββits application is the care of vegetables in the garden. One of the most favorite vegetable crops for growing in Russia are cucumbers and tomatoes. For the sake of their refined taste, gardeners endure all the difficulties associated with their cultivation.
This is the construction of greenhouses, and tying up, and careful observance of the irrigation regime, and, of course, top dressing. That's just as fertilizer and use boric acid. In addition, it is suitable as a fertilizer for the following garden crops:
- potatoes;
- beet;
- Strawberry;
- grapes;
- pears
- apples.
The fact is that boron is a trace element important for their growth, which helps to absorb other important macro- and micronutrients.
And also she is able to fight against microorganisms that harm plants. Therefore, by spraying vegetables and fruits with boric acid, two birds with one stone can be killed at once.
To prepare fertilizer from this acid, you need to make a solution by diluting half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water. And then it is already possible to fertilize in two ways: by irrigation with a solution directly under the root or by spraying. You can also fertilize the soil with this solution, the concentration of boron in the soil makes it more fertile. But do not be too zealous, because an excess of boron in the soil is harmful to plants.
Cosmetics
In cosmetics, such as baby powder, creams and soaps, boric acid plays the role of an emulsifier. That is, it helps to achieve a uniform consistency when mixing two substances that are not initially mixed with each other, such as water and oil.
Those who are prone to allergic reactions, as well as children and pregnant women should be wary of cosmetics with boric acid in the composition. Defining it as a member is simple - it will be indicated under one of these names:
- boric acid;
- orthoboric acid;
- boric acid;
- acidum boricum;
- E-284.
In addition to the emulsifying properties of boric acid, its antiseptic qualities are also used here. That is, it also acts as a preservative for the perishable components of natural origin in cosmetics.