how to make boric acid from Borax

For this experiment you will need borax (disodium tetraborate) and hydrochloric acid plus methanol optional extra.

First part of the procedure is to make a concentrated solution of borax. I did this by dissolving 7g of borax in 20ml of boiling hot water. To this approximately 20ml of hydrochloric acid was added.
Next the solution was cooled and filtered.

The wet boric acid was then mixed with methanol and set on fire. A blue orange flame was produced that had a slight green tinge to it.

The last part was to heat the boric acid until it decomposed into boric oxide. Which when molten can be drawn out into long fibers.

Safty :- hydrochloric acid is corrosive and an irritant. Borax can be an irritant to some people with sensitive skin. methanol is toxic and flamable. Always wear gloves and goggles.

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[ignilc]

will this also work with sulfuric acid instead of HCl?

[AlchemicalGarden]

@ignilc yes

[adjuvants12780]

what concentration of HCl did u use?

[AlchemicalGarden]

@adjuvants12780 i used conc, but strong would probelby do

[Erniz2]

hi there, how to make opposit reaction -convert boric acid to borax?

[AlchemicalGarden]

add base, NaOH

[bestSVMS]

boric acid should be a much greener flame with less yellow

[starshock01]

wow...cool....never knew all those boxes of 20 mule could be put to better use then occupying the closet...

[ArieeShadow8]

Does boric acid eats your flesh off and if you drank it, it would eat you're thoart out and make you bleed to death?

[98JMA]

I've repeatedly tried this and cannot get it to work- any ideas?

[98JMA]

@bestSVMS

But when you dissolve it in MeOH you create trimethylborate, which could burn differently.

[demnlordd666]

so your problem her is you are making salt and boric acid at the same time, thats why you flame is yellow and green. Na2B4O7 + 2HCl = 2NaCl + H3BO3(boric acid) and water. You would need to experiment with solubility curves to get one salt from the other

[Phacias]

You might not be doing heroin, but You certainly 'did' acid here :)

[nerdalert226]

at first i thought you said 67 grams and i was like either your crazy or your scale is messed up:D

[BabylonWhore666]

Lick it.

[Rofl4Waffles]

Silicone oil + boric acid = silly putty... :D

It's from the movie, "the computer who wore tennis shoes."

[MrDJok23]

hes doin hairoen

[TheCaptainLulz]

@JOEWOLCHAK1 hardware store, as a scale remover for humidifiers.