Boric Acid – Structure, Properties, Preparation and Uses

What is Boric Acid?

Boric Acid – Structure: Boric acid is a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder. It is the weak acid of boron and hydrogen. It is used as an antiseptic, insecticide, and flame retardant.

Crystal Structure of Boric Acid

• Boric acid is a weak acid with the chemical formula H 3 BO 3 . It is a colorless, odorless, and syrupy solid that is soluble in water. The compound is used in various industries and has a variety of applications.
• The crystal structure of boric acid is shown in the figure below. The compound crystallizes in a simple cubic structure with a B-O-B bond angle of 107.5°. The boron atoms are surrounded by six oxygen atoms in a distorted octahedral geometry. The oxygen atoms are not in perfect octahedral symmetry, with the two equatorial oxygen atoms being slightly closer to the boron atom than the two axial oxygen atoms.

Properties of Boric Acid

• Boric acid is a weak acid with a pKa of about 9.3.
• This means that it is only about 10% dissociated in aqueous solution.
• It is a white, crystalline solid that is soluble in water. It is used as an insecticide and antiseptic.

Preparation of Boric Acid

• Boric acid is a weak acid that is used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. It is used as an antiseptic, as a preservative in food, and as a flame retardant. It is also used in the manufacture of plastics, fibers, and other materials. In addition, boric acid is used as a flux in the manufacture of electronic components.
• Boric acid is produced by the reaction of boron oxide with water. Boron oxide is a compound of boron and oxygen that is formed by the burning of boron in air.
• The first step in the production of boric acid is the preparation of boron oxide. Boron oxide is prepared by the reaction of boron trioxide with hydrogen chloride. Boron trioxide is a compound of boron and oxygen that is formed by the thermal decomposition of boric acid.
• The reaction of boron trioxide with hydrogen chloride produces boron trichloride and water.
• The boron trichloride is then reacted with water to produce boric acid and hydrochloric acid.
• The hydrochloric acid is then removed by distillation to produce boric acid.

Uses of Boric Acid

• Boric acid is a weak acid that is used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. It is used in the manufacture of glass, enamels, and ceramics.
• It is also used as a flux in the metallurgical industry. Boric acid is also used as a preservative in food and as an insecticide.
• It is used as a food preservative, as a flame retardant, and as a pesticide.