Boric acid

Boric acid (boron hydroxide acid)

Colourless crystal substance in the form of flavourless scales, has layered triclinic lattice in which molecules of acid are connected by hydrogen bonds in flat layers, layers are connected among themselves by intermolecular bonds (d = 0,318 nanometers).

Metaboric acid (HBO2) also represents colourless crystals. It exists in three modifications — the steadiest γ-HBO2 with cubical lattice, β-HBO2 with monoklinny lattice and α-HBO2 with rhombic lattice.

When heating boron hydroxide acid loses water and at first passes into metaboric acid, then into tetraboric H2B4O7. At further heating it is dehydrated to boric anhydride.

Aqueous solutions of boric acid are mix of polyboric acids of the general formula N3m-2nvmo3m-n.

Stay in the nature

In the nature free boric acid meets in the form of sassolite mineral, in hot springs and mineral waters.

Application
In nuclear reactors as the absorber of neutrons dissolved in the heat carrier.
Boric fertilizer
Laboratories apply to preparation of buffer solutions
In medicine — as independent desinfectant, and also in the form of 2% of solution - for washing of skin after hit of alkalis
Also on the basis of boric acid the different combined preparations (ATX D08AD group), for example, Teymurov's paste are made.
In the photo — as a part of fine-grained developers and acid fixatives for creation of weak acid condition.
In life it is used for fight against cockroaches.
In the food industry — it is registered as food additive of E284 (in the territory of Russia this additive is not included into the list allowed for use [1]).
In game Novus rub with boric acid game table for the best sliding of counters.
In jewelry — as basis of gumboils for the soldering of gold-bearing alloys.
In the industry - binding at acid lining of furnaces.