Hey guys, welcome to this mometrix video on
Boric Acid and Borax.
In this video, we will take a look at where
each are naturally present, how each are formed,
a few of their uses, and can you eat them?
So, first, where do
boric acid and borax occur in nature?
Boric acid occurs in small traces in certain
fruits and beverages like apples and bananas,
it’s found in almonds and peanuts, it’s found in beer and wine, and it’s found in leafy vegetables.
You can also find boric acid along with its
salt in seawater.
Now, borax is the salt of boric acid.
It materializes in dry places from the evaporation
of salt lakes.
Now, how are boric acid and borax formed?
Well, both are a boron compound.
However, boron will never occur naturally
in just elemental form.
It will always be bonded with another element.
The reason this is the case, is because Boron
is a vulnerable element with only 3 valence electrons,
and it wants 8, so it’s going
to bond with another element that is looking
to acquire some electrons.
In this case, we’re going to say that it
bonds with Bromine.
The product is going to be Boron Tribromide.
So, we have B + 3 Br → BBr3
Then, when Boron Tribromide comes into contact with water, and reacts, it undergoes hydrolysis.
So, here is what that look like:
When the Boron Tribromide reacts with water the molecules are broken apart (which is what hydrolysis is).
Hydrolysis is a double-replacement reaction
which means that the anions and cations from
each compound will switch places during the
reaction.
This is exactly what would need to happen,
assuming we want one of our products to be
boric acid (which in our case is what we are
trying to achieve).
Now, in our product we have two new compounds
boric acid and hydrogen bromide.
So, that is one way in which Boric acid is formed: boron reacts with bromine, forms boron tribromide,
then boron tribromide undergoes hydrolysis, and as a result we have boric acid and hydrogen bromide.
Well, now how is borax formed?
Remember, borax is a sodium salt of boric
acid.
So, let’s say we just have straight boric
acid.
What would need to happen to get borax out
of it?
Well, you could combine boric acid and sodium carbonate
(also known as soda ash), and boil the two together.
The heat will help to catalyze the reaction.
When these two react together we get borax,
water, and carbon dioxide:
4H3BO3 + Na2CO3 → Na2B4O7 + 6H2O +CO2
When the substance cools the borax will separate out.
Now, boric acid and borax both have several
uses, and some of their uses have overlap,
which makes sense seeing as how one is the
derivative of the other.
Boric Acid is used industrially to produce
fiberglass, LCD screens, ceramics, and silly putty.
It’s used in the medical world as an antiseptic
and an antibacterial agent.
It has been used to treat yeast infections
and as an astringent to help stop infection.
In some countries it is used in small amounts
as a food preservative.
It’s also commonly used as an insecticide
to kill roaches, ants, silverfish, and termites.
Borax is used very commonly as a household
detergent and cleaning item.
It’s used as an antifungal agent, preservative, fire retardant, an ingredient in making various
kinds of glass, and much more.
Another very common question is “can you
eat boric acid and borax?”
The answer is yes you can!
Boron is actually a mineral that your body
needs.
However, large amounts of either can be hazardous.
So, ask your doctor, “hey, based on the
size of my body and me, would it be a good
idea for me to eat either boric acid or borax?”
I hope that this video over boric acid and
borax has been helpful.
If you enjoyed it, then be sure to give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for further videos.
See you guys next time!
