borax

1. a soluble readily fusible white mineral consisting of impure hydrated disodium tetraborate in monoclinic crystalline form, occurring in alkaline soils and salt deposits. Formula: Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂O

2. pure disodium tetraborate

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

borax

[′bȯ‚raks]

(mineralogy)

Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O A white, yellow, blue, green, or gray borate mineral that is an ore of boron and occurs as an efflorescence or in monoclinic crystals; when pure it is used as a cleaning agent, antiseptic, and flux. Also known as diborate; pyroborate; sodium (1:2) borate; sodium tetraborate; tincal.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Borax

sodium tetraborate, Na₂B₄O₇·IOH₂O, crystal hydrate of the sodium salt of tetraboric acid. It is found in nature in the form of the mineral borax (or tincal), which is white or, less frequently, gray and yellow in color; its density is 1, 690-1, 720 kg/m³. Borax is soluble in water (1.6 g of the anhydrous salt in 100 g of H₂O at 10° C). Aqueous solutions of borax are alkaline and absorb CO₂ from the air. Borax is decomposed by strong acids. It is used in soldering, since fused borax dissolves oxides of metals and in that way cleans the metallic surfaces to be soldered. Borax is used in the production of special kinds of glass (mainly optical), enamels, glazes, for tanning leather, for making substances borated, and in agriculture as a trace-element fertilizer.

Borax is a medicinal preparation that has antiseptic action. It is used in the form of a 3-5 percent solution for irrigation and lubrication of the buccal cavity, nose, and nasopharynx in various infectious diseases (tracheitis, head cold, stomatitis, and others). Borax is prescribed internally for treatment of epilepsy (especially in children).

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References in periodicals archive

The standard dose is 1 teaspoon of borax per liter of water to make a concentrated, stock solution.

Monthly Miracles: Boron--An Important Trace Mineral

Maximum plant height (217.00 cm) was measured in [T.sub.6] (three foliar sprays of 0.5% borax) followed by [T.sub.4] (two foliar sprays of 0.5% borax) and [T.sub.8] (four foliar sprays of 0.5% borax) with plant height 214.00 cm and 212.33 cm, respectively, which were statistically significant as compared to T1 (control) measuring plant height (197.67 cm).

Efficacy of Boron as Foliar Feeding on Yield and Quality Attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Further, the addition of external borax can better stabilize the structure macroscopically.

Comparative Study on the Performance of Blended and Nonblended Fly Ash Geopolymer Composites as Durable Construction Materials

Seed priming with 0.01 M B solution of borax produced longer seedlings than control (Table 2).

Boron Seed Priming Improves the Seedling Emergence, Growth, Grain Yield and Grain Biofortification of Bread Wheat

In addition to usage of boric acid, unlike from the literature, boron oxide, borax decahydrate and borax pentahydrate as boron sources were used to synthesize TPB.

Characterization and Exergy Analysis of Triphenyl Borate

Five B sources were used as raw materials in the co-granulation process; two BP[O.sub.4] compounds, colemanite, ulexite and borax. The BP[O.sub.4] compounds were synthesised by mixing boric acid ([H.sub.3]B[O.sub.3]) and phosphoric acid ([H.sub.3]P[O.sub.3]) and heating the mixture at 500 or 800[degrees]C for 1 h (Abat et al.

Slow-release boron fertilisers: co-granulation of boron sources with mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP)

"Considering that mercury costs some P8,000 per kilo, borax, which costs only P100 per kilo, will be a much cheaper alternative," Cubelo said.

Alternative to mercury rises in Diwalwal

Foliar application of calcium chloride (CaCl2) alone had no significant effect on most of the quality variables, however, CaCl2 + Borax (Na2B4O7* 10H2O) application increased the fruit weight (19.87 g), pulp weight (14.88 g) and pulp dry weight (13.76%) in control fruits to the maximum of 20.79, 15.69 g and 15.40% respectively with CaCl2 (3%) + Borax (1.5%).

FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND BORAX ENHANCE THE FRUIT QUALITY OF LITCHI CULTIVARS

Officials for the Eldora, Iowa-based company say Uniform Wash tackles tough uniform stains with borax and stain-blasting enzymes while clinging to stains for easy application and stain removal.

Pyramid power

Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax) was added to this at 5% (weight/volume) to preserve the attractant and the captured insects (LOPEZ; HERNANDEZ BECERRIL, 1967).

Hidrogenionic potential (pH) of the attractant, trap density and control threshold for Ceratitis capitata (diptera: tephritidae) on Hamlin oranges in Sao Paulo Central Region, Brazil/ Potencial hidrogenionico (pH) do atrativo, densidade de armadilhas e nivel de controle para Ceratitis capitata (diptera: tephritidae) em laranja Hamlin na Regiao Central de Sao Paulo, Brasil