Boric Acid Ester Waste Burnoff

After preforming the Boric Acid Ester demonstration [see: ]excess reactants are burned in a well-ventilated room to dispose of the waste.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• chem
• chemistry
• sci
• science
• demo
• demonstration
• Sully
• Russia
• sully
• russia
• school
• reaction
• react
• rnx
• boron
• boric
• acid
• B(OH)3
• H3(BO3)
• methanol
• CH3OH
• alcohol
• evaporating
• dish
• green
• fire
• flame

[devonika91]

i see that when i burn trash cans! and purple fire! uh... i mean.. :l

[mrericsully]

@devonika91 If you are burning plastic trash cans then it is possible that the green flame is coming from PVC which burns with a green flame.

[Nighthawkinlight]

Here's a question for you: What solid compound could be synthesized from the esters of boric acid that would then decompose back into those esters when heated? If such a compound exists, it would make an excellent replacement for the toxic barium compounds typically used as a green color agent in fireworks.

[mrericsully]

I'll have to think about that and do some research. having said that the boric acid that I use to make this might be a good start. I also know that borax cleaners have boron in them and might be a source of boron for green flames.

Thanks for your videos by the way I just subscribed the other day when I realized that I hadn't already- I stumbled across one of yours over the summer and watched most of them back then, but apparently failed to subscribe then.

[JDT527]

reminds me of something off Harry Potter :D

[PyroChemicals]

Nighthawk, you should be looking for decaborane, which has already been commercially used in pyrotechnics. It is a crystalline complex of hydrogen and boron atoms.

[Nighthawkinlight]

Thank you, I do appreciate your subscription.

Boric acid is used occasionally to prevent reactions between aluminum/magnesium and nitrates, but it is not capable of producing green in those compositions. I have not tried borax personally, but I do not believe it has had better results for those who have. The esters are the key to a good green color as far as I can tell, but being in liquid form they are not suitable for use.