What is Na2B4O7? Important knowledge about Na2B4O7.

1.1 Na₂B₄O₇, commonly known as borax, is English for Sodium borate. Borax is a salt form of borate acid, with a molecular structure consisting of 2 sodium atoms, 4 boron atoms, and 7 oxygen atoms. The atomic mass of borax is 201.22 g/mol. In ion structure, borax forms sodium ions (Na+) and borate ions (B₄O₇^2-).

2.1 Borax is a crystalline solid, white in color, and odorless. When dissolved in water, borax creates an alkaline environment with a pH of about 9.2.2. In chemical reactions, borax can react with acids, metals, and non-metals.

3.1 Borax can react with metals such as:

• 2Na₂B₄O₇ + TiCl₄ -> 2NaTiB₂O₆ + 2NaCl
• Na₂B₄O₇ + 2Al -> Al₂B₄O₁₂ + 2Na
• Na₂B₄O₇ + 2Ni -> Ni₂B₄O₁₂ + 2Na

3.2 Acid reactions such as:

• Na₂B₄O₇ + 2HCl -> H₂B₄O₇ + 2NaCl
• Na₂B₄O₇ + H₂SO₄ -> H₂B₄O₇ + Na₂SO₄

3.3 Reactions with salts such as:

• Na₂B₄O₇ + NaCl -> NaB₅O₈Cl + NaOH

4.1 In the laboratory, borax can be synthesized from boric acid and sodium hydroxide:

• 4H₃BO₃ + 2NaOH -> Na₂B₄O₇ + 7H₂O

4.2 In the industry, borax is often produced from the mining of natural borax crystals, which are then cleaned and refined to meet industrial quality standards.