How to Compound Boric Acid
Boric acid is a compound of boron, oxygen and hydrogen. Boric acid is tasteless, colorless and non-toxic. It's used in manufacturing, as a food supplement and as a pesticide. Boric acid is also the key ingredient in Silly Putty. Boron doesn't occur alone in nature. It is always part of a compound such as boric acid or borax. The chemical name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate, and it is found commonly in nature. Unlike boric acid, borax contains sodium. But borax can be converted to boric acid in a few simple steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Borax
- Glass beakers
- Boiling water
- Glass pipette or stirrer
- Hydrochloric acid 25 percent
- Filter paper
Instructions
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1
Put on safety glasses.
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2
Pour 4 tbsp of borax into a glass beaker,
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3
Add 4 oz of boiling water to the beaker. Stir with the glass pipette until the borax is completely dissolved.
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4
Measure 4 oz of the hydrochloric acid solution. Pour the acid into the beaker with the borax solution.
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5
Stir the solution. As the beaker cools, shards of solid boric acid will settle to the bottom.
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6
Place a filter paper over a clean beaker. Slowly and carefully pour the fluid with the boric acid pieces into the filter. Allow the water to fill the beaker below and the pieces of boric acid to remain in the filter. Discard the fluid.
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7
Dry the boric acid completely.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If the water cools before the borax is completely dissolved, reheat the solution.
Always wear safety glasses when working with chemicals.
Even though the ingredients are generally safe, some people react to boron products with a rash or swelling. Use care when handling boric acid or borax for the first time.
References
- Photo Credit chemical experiences image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
