What is disodium tetraborate used for?

Borax, also called sodium tetraborate, is a powdery white mineral that has been used as a cleaning product for several decades. It has many uses: It helps get rid of stains, mold, and mildew around the house. It can kill insects such as ants.

What is the pKa of borate?

9.2
Boric acid is a very weak acid with a pKa value of 9.2. At a lower pH than 7, boron is present in its nondissociated form (boric acid) and at a pH greater than 10.5, it is present in the dissociated borate form.

Is disodium tetraborate the same as boric acid?

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.

Is sodium tetraborate hygroscopic?

COLOURLESS-TO-WHITE HYGROSCOPIC CRYSTALS OR POWDER. White to gray, odorless powder. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) White to gray, odorless powder.

Is borax and baking soda the same?

Borax is significantly more alkaline than baking soda. Borax has a pH of 9.5 vs. 8 for baking soda. That might make it more effective in certain situations, but it also makes it a harsher cleaning agent.

What is the pKa value?

In simple terms, pKa is a number that shows how weak or strong an acid is. It measures the strength of an acid — how tightly a proton is held by a Bronsted acid. The lower the value of pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater its ability to donate its protons.

Why is borax banned in UK?

Borax is banned as a food additive here in the UK. Borax is not available to buy in the UK or EU at all, due to the ‘borate’ group of chemicals being reclassified in 2010 as potentially hazardous to health.

Is sodium tetraborate the same as baking soda?

Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound with the formula of NaHCO3 (one sodium ion to one bicarbonate ion). Borax is the common name for the naturally occurring mineral sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B407-10H2O).

Is borax the same as TSP?

Is the TSP the same as borax? Trisodium Phosphate – also known as TSP – is a powerful cleaner that removes grease and dirt and kills mold. Like TSP, borax successfully cleans a wide variety of surfaces and removes mold. However, borax is made up of sodium borate and does not contain strong chemicals.

Why is borax banned?

Known Studies on the Safety of Borax The EU has banned borax on claims of impacts on reproductive health, following studies on mice and rats at high (abnormally high) ingested doses.

What is the CAS number for disodium tetraborate?

(Disodium tetraborate, anhydrous) (CAS-No.) 1303-96-4 100 Full text of R- and H-statements: see section 16 3.2. Mixtures Not applicable SECTION 4: First aid measures 4.1. Description of first aid measures First-aid measures after inhalation : Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.

What are the elements in disodium octaborate tetrahydrate?

Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (or DOT) is a white, odorless, powdered substance containing the basic elements of boron and oxygen. Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate is not flammable and presents little or no hazard (to humans).

What kind of mineral is sodium tetraborate?

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.

How are boric acid and sodium tetraborate used?

Target Organisms. Boric acid, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate are used to inhibit the growth of fungi by preventing the production of reproductive spores. 5 Boric acid and sodium tetraborate (all hydration states) can be used as herbicides, causing the desiccation of plants.