How Corrosive Is Boric Acid?
As far as acids go, boric acid is not one of the most powerful or corrosive. It is a compound that is used as a natural insecticide, in eyewash solutions, and in medicated powders. However, as with many substances found in the natural world, chronic exposure can lead to sickness or even death.
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Boric acid poisoning
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Boric acid can be found in antiseptics and astringents, but when a person receives continuous treatment with a substance containing the compound, he or she can experience a buildup and suffer illness or death. The most common symptoms are blue-green vomit, diarrhea and a bright-red skin rash.
Boric acid as an insecticide
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Boric acid has been a commonly-used form of insecticide for many years in the United States. Homeowners that are experiencing cockroach infestations can use boric acid to eradicate the insects. The compound is toxic to cockroaches, which will return to bait traps repeatedly until they die.
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Boric acid as an eyewash
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Conjunctivitis, or pink-eye, is an inflammation commonly affecting the membranes of the eye and can be very contagious. It can also be treated with a rinse made with boric acid. Boiling one teaspoon of boric acid in one cup of water and placing it on the affected eye with a sterile clothe after it has cooled often brings relief of symptoms.
Boric acid against mosquitoes
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A study conducted by the USDA's Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology discovered that a solution of only 1 percent boric acid resulted in a mortality rate of 98 percent of adult mosquitoes in laboratory tests.
Silly Putty
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During World War II, James Wright discovered that mixing silicon oil with boric acid produced a compound that could stretch without breaking and could bounce 25 percent higher than a regular rubber ball.
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