PRODUCTS

E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE)

E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE) = BORAX = FUSED

CAS Number: 1330-43-4
EC Number: 215-540-4
Linear Formula: Na2B4O7 / Na2B4O7·10H2O

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) (Sodium tetraborate, borax, borax, borax, E285) is a salt of weak boric acid and a strong base, a common boron compound, has several crystal hydrates.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s chemical formula is Na2B4O7.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.
Powdered E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve in water.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), a natural acid, but commercially produced from boron.
A major source of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is the mineral kernite, abundant in the Mojave Desert.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a food additive approved by the European Union (EU).

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a natural acid that acts as an antimicrobial preservative
The common name for E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is borax.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) may also be known as sodium tetraborate or borax decahydrate.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is the sodium salt of boric acid.
As well as occurring naturally, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) can also be produced commercially from boron.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) often acts as the source of minerals used in vitamin and mineral products.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a salt (ionic compound), a hydrated borate of sodium, with chemical formula Na2H20B4O17 often written Na2B4O7·10H2O.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a colorless crystalline solid, that dissolves in water to make a basic solution.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is often called sodium tetraborate decahydrate, but that name is not consistent with E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s structure.
The anion is not tetraborate [B4O7]2− but tetrahydroxy tetraborate [B4O5(OH)4]2−, so the more correct formula should be Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O.

Informally, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is often called sodium borate decahydrate or just sodium borate.
The terms tincal /ˈtɪŋkəl/ "tinkle" and tincar /ˈtɪŋkər/ "tinker" refer to native E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), historically mined from dry lake beds in various parts of Asia.

From the chemical perspective, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) contains the [B4O5(OH)4]2− ion.
In this structure, there are two four-coordinate boron centers and two three-coordinate boron centers.
The crystalline decahydrate is a proton conductor at temperatures above 21 °C.

Conductivity is maximum along the b axis.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also easily converted to boric acid and other borates, which have many applications.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s reaction with hydrochloric acid to form boric acid is:
Na2B4O7·10H2O + 2 HCl → 4 H3BO3 + 2 NaCl + 5H2O

The "decahydrate" is sufficiently stable to find use as a primary standard for acid base titrimetry.
Molten E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) dissolves many metal oxides to form glasses.
This property is important for its uses in metallurgy and for the E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) bead test of qualitative chemical analysis.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is soluble in a variety of solvents; however, it is notably insoluble in ethanol.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is an inorganic compound. It has the form of a white crystalline substance that dissolves easily in water. E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs in nature as the mineral borax, which is commonly found in the mining of dry lake basins.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is produced synthetically from other boron salts.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a salt of boric acid (and is the source of other industrial compounds), but from a chemical point of view, these are two different substances.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has several pseudonyms including Sodium Borate, Disodium Tetraborate, Disodium Salt, Boric Acid, Sodium Borate Decahydrate and more commonly known Borax.

Derived as a hydrate salt of Boric Acid, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs naturally as seasoned lakes repeatedly cycle and evaporate, leaving behind a build-up of powdery crystal deposit which is the salt of Boric Acid.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is essentially a combination of Sodium, Boron and Oxygen.

The white granular powder is water soluble and has several applications from household cleaners to pesticides, enamel manufacturing to the artificial aging of wood, a buffering agent in chemistry to an alkalizer in the pharmaceutical industry.
In recent years E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has become popular as the ‘activator’ in play putty or Hand Slime.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) or borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) ( 硼砂 ) also known as sodium borate, sodium decahydrate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is more accurately called sodium tetraborate decahydrate with chemical formula Na2B4O7·10H2O or Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O.

Powdered E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is transparent white crystal powder, odorless and water soluble
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs naturally in evaporate deposits produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is an inorganic compound.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has the form of a white crystalline substance that dissolves easily in water.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs in nature as the mineral borax, which is commonly found in the mining of dry lake basins.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is produced synthetically from other boron salts.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a salt of boric acid (and is the source of other industrial compounds), but from a chemical point of view, these are two different substances.
The formula is often improperly written as Na2B4O7•(n+2)H2O, reflecting an older incorrect understanding of the anion‘s molecular structure.

The name may refer to any of a number of closely related boron-containing mineral or chemical compounds that differ in their water of crystallization content.
The most commonly encountered one is the octahydrate Na2H4B4O9•8H2O or [Na(H2O)+4]2 [B4O5(OH)2−4] (or Na2B4O7•10H2O, the “decahydrate”, in the older notation).

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a colorless crystalline solid that dissolves in water.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is a compound with formula Na2H4B4O9•nH2O or, more precisely, [Na•(H2O)+m]2 [B4O5(OH)2−4].

Borax was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th century AD.
Borax first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith's Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the 20 Mule Team Borax trademark, named for the method by which borax was originally hauled out of the California and Nevada deserts.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium borate decahydrate or sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is a hydrate salt of boric acid.
Commonly available in powder or granular form, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) dissolves in water to make a basic, aqueous solution.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is soluble and has many industrial and household applications as a component in a wide range of products.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.

Powdered E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
A number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content are referred to as E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), but the word is usually used to refer to the decahydrate.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th Century AD.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith's Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the 20 Mule Team Borax trademark, named for the method by which borax was originally hauled out of the California and Nevada deserts in large enough quantities to make E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) cheap and commonly available.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.
Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th Century AD.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith’s Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the 20 Mule Team Borax trademark, named for the method by which borax was originally hauled out of the California and Nevada deserts in large enough quantities to make it cheap and commonly available.

Na2B4O7·10H2O + 2 HCl → 4 H3BO3 + 2 NaCl + 5 H2O
The “decahydrate” is sufficiently stable to find use as a primary standard for acid base titrimetry.
When E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)is added to a flame, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) produces a yellow green color.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is not used for this purpose in fireworks due to the overwhelming yellow color of sodium.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is generally described as Na2B4O7·10H2O.
However, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is better formulated as Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O, since borax contains the [B4O5(OH)4]2− ion.
In this structure, there are two four-coordinate boron atoms (two BO4 tetrahedra) and two three-coordinate boron atoms (two BO3 triangles).

Colemanite , borate mineral, hydrated calcium borate (Ca2B6O11·5H2O) that was the principal source of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) until the 1930s.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) typically occurs as colourless, brilliant crystals and masses in Paleogene and Neogene sediments (those formed 65.5 to 2.6 million years ago), where it has been derived from ulexite and borax.

The chief localities are the Kramer district, Death Valley, and Daggett, Calif.
Colemanite is an important source of commercial borates and boric acid.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) (known as Borax, Sodium borate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate) is a natural ingredient that has the texture of white clay - E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) often contains soft, transparent crystals that dissolve in water.

Potassium propanoate or potassium propionate has formula K(C2H5COO).
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s melting point is 410 °C.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is the potassium salt of propanoic acid.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carboxylic acid salts.
These are ionic derivatives of carboxylic acid.
Based on a literature review very few articles have been published on potassium propanoate.

Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carboxylic acid salts.
These are ionic derivatives of carboxylic acid.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a food additive approved by the European Union (EU) and is a natural acid that acts as an antimicrobial preservative in food products, especially in baked goods.

The common name for E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is potassium propionate.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also known as potassium propanoate.
E283 is the potassium salt of propionic acid.

In the body E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) acts as a small chain fatty acid.
In bakery products, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) prevents the growth bacteria that cause sticky yellow patches.

USES and APPLICATIONS of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has a wide variety of uses.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as an insecticide, as a flux in metallurgy, a texturing agent in cooking, and as a precursor for other boron compounds.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in biochemical and chemical laboratories to make buffers, e.g. for gel electrophoresis of DNA, such as TBE or the newer SB buffer or BBS (borate buffered saline) in coating procedures.
Borate buffers (usually at pH 8) are also used as preferential equilibration solution in DMP-based crosslinking reactions.

-A mixture of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) and ammonium chloride is used as a flux when welding iron and steel.
It lowers the melting point of the unwanted iron oxide (scale), allowing it to run off.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used mixed with water as a flux when soldering jewelry metals such as gold or silver.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) allows the molten solder to flow evenly over the joint in question.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also a good flux for 'pre-tinning' tungsten with zinc - making the tungsten soft-solderable.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is replacing mercury as the preferred method for extracting gold in small-scale mining facilities.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), given the E number E285, is used as a food additive in which certain foods contain higher levels of salt to assist preservation.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)s use as a cooking ingredient is to add a firm rubbery texture to the food, or as a preservative.
In oriental cooking E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is mostly used for E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s texturing properties.
-Boric acid and borates are used as a buffer to control acidity in products.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used in multi-vitamin/mineral products as a mineral source.
-Rrarely used in foods, but often in farmaceuticals.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used in the glass industry, the textile industry, in tanning leather, and in the manufacture of paper.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is obtained by mining of boron-containing rocks, or by re crystallisation from water sources.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound, in the manufacture of fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, as a precursor for other boron compounds, and along with its inverse, boric acid, is useful as an insecticide.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in various household laundry and cleaning products.
-Given the E number E285, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a food additive.
-In Asia, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was found to have been added to some Chinese foods like hand-pulled noodles lamian and some rice noodles like shahe fen, kway teow, and chee cheong fun recipes.

-Preservative :
Prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms which may be harmful.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has many industrial uses including as an added ingredient in washing powders, water softeners and soaps.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also mixed with clay and other substances to produce porcelain enamels which is used in pottery, sinks etc.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used on, not in foods as an inorganic herbicide, or insecticide.

-It is commonly available in powder or granular form, and has many industrial and household uses, including as a pesticide, as a metal soldering flux, as a component of glass, enamel, and pottery glazes, for tanning of skins and hides, for artificial aging of wood, as a preservative against wood fungus, and as a pharmaceutic alkalizer.

-In chemical laboratories, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a buffering agent.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used in the glass and textiles industry and in the tanning of leather.

-Ant control:
Borax is used in control solutions because E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is toxic to ants.
Because E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is slow-acting, worker ants will carry the borax to their nests and poison the rest of the colony.

-Household products:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in various household laundry and cleaning products, including the 20 Mule Team Borax laundry booster, Boraxo powdered hand soap, and some tooth bleaching formulas.

-pH buffer:
Borate ions (commonly supplied as boric acid) are used in biochemical and chemical laboratories to make buffers, e.g. for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA and RNA, such as TBE buffer (borate buffered tris-hydroxymethylaminomethonium) or the newer SB buffer or BBS buffer (borate buffered saline) in coating procedures.
Borate buffers (usually at pH 8) are also used as preferential equilibration solution in dimethyl pimelimidate (DMP) based crosslinking reactions.

-Co-complexing agent:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) as a source of borate has been used to take advantage of the co-complexing ability of borate with other agents in water to form complex ions with various substances.
Borate and a suitable polymer bed are used to chromatograph non-glycated hemoglobin differentially from glycated hemoglobin (chiefly HbA1c), which is an indicator of long-term hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.

-Water-softening agent:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) alone does not have a high affinity for the hardness cations, although E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has been used for water-softening.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s chemical equation for water-softening is given below:

Ca2+ (aq) + Na2B4O7 (aq) → Ca B4O7 (s)↓ + 2 Na+ (aq)
Mg2+ (aq) + Na2B4O7 (aq) → Mg B4O7 (s)↓ + 2 Na+ (aq)
The sodium ions introduced do not make water ‘hard’. This method is suitable for removing both temporary and permanent types of hardness.

-Flux:
A mixture of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) and ammonium chloride is used as a flux when welding iron and steel.
It lowers the melting point of the unwanted iron oxide (scale), allowing it to run off.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used mixed with water as a flux when soldering jewelry metals such as gold or silver, where E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) allows the molten solder to wet the metal and flow evenly into the joint.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also a good flux for "pre-tinning" tungsten with zinc — making the tungsten soft-solderable.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is often used as a flux for forge welding.

-Small-scale gold mining:
In artisanal gold mining, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is sometimes used as part of a process known as the borax method (as a flux) meant to eliminate the need for toxic mercury in the gold extraction process, although E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) cannot directly replace mercury.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the Philippines in the 1900s.
There is evidence that, in addition to reducing the environmental impact, this method achieves better gold recovery for suitable ores and is less expensive.

This E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) method is used in northern Luzon in the Philippines, but miners have been reluctant to adopt E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) elsewhere for reasons that are not well understood.
The method has also been promoted in Bolivia and Tanzania.

-Flubber:
A rubbery polymer sometimes called Slime, Flubber, 'gluep' or 'glurch' (or erroneously called Silly Putty, which is based on silicone polymers), can be made by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol with E 285 (Sodium tetraborate).
Making flubber from polyvinyl acetate-based glues, such as Elmer's Glue, and borax is a common elementary-science demonstration.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used, for example, in metallurgy (as a protective element against oxidation of processed alloys), analytical chemistry or the glass industry.
-In the food industry, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is known as a preservative (E285).

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used in cosmetics as a preservative, emulsifier and pH regulator.
-In detergents, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) acts as a water softener, removes impurities and odors.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has similar properties to baking soda, but with a higher pH (degree 9-11).

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also effective against fungi and also works as a repellent.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has a wide variety of uses.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in biochemical and chemical laboratories to make buffers, e.g. for gel electrophoresis of DNA, such as TBE or the newer SB buffer or BBS (borate buffered saline) in coating procedures.
-Borate buffers (usually at pH 8) are also used as preferential equilibration solution in DMP-based crosslinking reactions.

-A mixture of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) and ammonium chloride is used as a flux when welding iron and steel.
It lowers the melting point of the unwanted iron oxide (scale), allowing it to run off.

-Used Ingredient in enamel glazes, and Component of glass, pottery, and ceramics
-Used as an additive in ceramic slips and glazes to improve fit on wet, greenware, and bisque, Fire retardant
-Used Anti-fungal compound for cellulose insulation

-Used Moth proofing 10% solution for wool.
-Pulverized for the prevention of stubborn pests (e.g. German cockroaches) in closets, pipe and cable inlets, wall panelling gaps, and inaccessible locations where ordinary pesticides are undesirable.

-Used Tackifier ingredient in casein, starch and dextrin based adhesives.
-Used Precursor for boric acid, a tackifier ingredient in polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol based adhesives
-To make indelible ink for dip pens by dissolving shellac into heated E 285 (Sodium tetraborate).

-Used Curing agent for snake skins
-Used Curing agent for salmon eggs, for use in sport fishing for salmon
-Used Swimming pool buffering agent to control pH

-Neutron absorber, used in nuclear reactors and spent fuel pools to control reactivity and to shut down a nuclear chain reaction
-Used As a micronutrient fertilizer to correct boron-deficient soils.
-Used Preservative in taxidermy

-Used To color fires with a green tint
-Was traditionally used to coat dry-cured meats such as hams to improve the appearance and discourage flies.
-Used by blacksmiths in forge welding

-Used as a flux for melting metals and alloys in casting to draw out impurities and prevent oxidation.
-Used as a woodworm treatment (diluted in water)

-In Particle Physics as an additive to Nuclear emulsion, to extend the latent image lifetime of charged particle tracks.
The first observation of the pion, which was awarded the 1950 Nobel Prize, used this type of emulsion

-Other Uses: Shaving cream, cold cream, foundation cream, insecticides
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a component of detergents and cosmetics; in the paper and pharmaceutical industries; in the production of enamels, glazes, optical and colored glasses; as a disinfectant and preservative.

-Powder or glass-like plates becoming opaque on exposure to air; slowly soluble in water.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), given the E number E285, is used as a food additive.
-In addition to E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s use as a preservative, borax imparts a firm, rubbery texture to food.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has been found in foods especially noodles.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used, for example, in metallurgy (as a protective element against oxidation of processed alloys), analytical chemistry or the glass industry.

-In the food industry, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is known as a preservative (E285).
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used in cosmetics as a preservative, emulsifier and pH regulator.
-In detergents, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) acts as a water softener, removes impurities and odors.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has similar properties to baking soda, but with a higher pH (degree 9-11).
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also effective against fungi and also works as a repellent.
-Commercially sold borax is partially dehydrated.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.

-In artisanal gold mining, the E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) method is sometimes used as a substitute for toxic mercury in the gold extraction process.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the Philippines in the 1900s.

-Applications include as a pesticide; metal soldering; glaze and enamel manufacturing; tanning of skins and hides; artificial aging of wood; as a preservative against wood fungus; analytical chemistry as a buffering agent; and pharmaceutic aid as an alkalizer.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound, in the manufacture of fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, as a cross-linking agent in slime, as an alkali in photographic developers, as a precursor for other boron compounds, and is useful as an insecticide (similarly to boric acid).

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in various household laundry and cleaning products, including the “20 Mule Team Borax” laundry booster, “Boraxo” powdered hand soap, and some tooth bleaching formulas.

-pH buffer:
Borate ions (commonly supplied as boric acid) are used in biochemical and chemical laboratories to make buffers, e.g. for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA and RNA, such as TBE buffer (borate buffered tris-hydroxymethylaminomethonium) or the newer
SB buffer or BBS buffer (borate buffered saline) in coating procedures.
Borate buffers (usually at pH 8) are also used as preferential equilibration solution in dimethyl pimelimidate (DMP) based crosslinking reactions.

-Borate and a suitable polymer bed are used to chromatograph non-glycosylated hemoglobin differentially from glycosylated hemoglobin (chiefly HbA1c), which is an indicator of long-term hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.

-Water-softening agent:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) alone does not have a high affinity for the hardness cations, although E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has been used for water-softening. Its chemical equation for water-softening is given below:

Ca2+ (aq) + Na2B4O7 (aq) → Ca B4O7 (s)↓ + 2 Na+ (aq)
Mg2+ (aq) + Na2B4O7 (aq) → Mg B4O7 (s)↓ + 2 Na+ (aq)

The sodium ions introduced do not make water ‘hard’.
This method is suitable for removing both temporary and permanent types of hardness.

-Food additive:
Borax, given the E number E285, is used as a food additive.

-A number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content are referred to as E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), but the word is usually used to refer to the decahydrate.
Commercially sold E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is partially dehydrated.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound, in the manufacture of fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, as a precursor for other boron compounds, and along with its inverse, boric acid, is useful as an insecticide.

-In artisanal gold mining, the E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) method is sometimes used as a substitute for toxic mercury in the gold extractionprocess.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the Philippines in the 1900s.

-The term E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is often used for a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content:
anhydrous sodium tetraborate, Na2B4O7
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, Na2B4O75H2O
setraborate decahydrate, Na2B4O710H2O

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also easily converted to boric acid and other borates, which have many applications.
-Boric acid is used to color methanol flames a transparent green.

-Flux:
A mixture of borax and ammonium chloride is used as a flux when weldin iron and steel.
It lowers the melting point of the unwanted iron oxide (scale), allowing it to run off.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used mixed with water as a flux when soldering jewelry metals such as gold or silver.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) allows the molten solder to flow evenly over the joint in question.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also a good flux for “pre-tinning” tungsten with zinc – making the tungsten soft-solderable.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is often used as a flux for forge welding.

-Flubber:
A rubbery polymer sometimes called Slime, Flubber, ‘gluep’ or ‘glurch’ (or erroneously called Silly Putty, which is based on silicone polymers), can be made by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol with borax.
Making flubber from polyvinyl acetate-based glues, such as Elmer’s Glue, and borax is a common elementary-science demonstration.

-Food additive:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), given the E number E285, is used as a food additive in some countries.
As a consequence, certain foods, such as caviar, produced for sale in the US contain higher levels of salt to assist preservation.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s use as a cooking ingredient is to add a firm rubbery texture to the food, or as a preservative.
In oriental cooking E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is mostly used for its texturing properties.

In Asia, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) (Chinese: 硼砂; pinyin: péng shā or Chinese: 月石; pinyin: yuè shí) was found to have been added to some Chinese foods like hand-pulled noodles lamian and some rice noodles like shahe fen, kway teow, and chee cheong fun recipes.

-Used Ingredient in enamel glazes, Component of glass, pottery, and ceramics
-Used as an additive in ceramic slips and glazes to improve fit on wet, greenware, and bisque
-Used Fire retardant, Anti-fungal compound for cellulose insulation

-Used Moth proofing 10% solution for wool, Pulverized for the prevention of stubborn pests (e.g. German cockroaches) in closets, pipe and cable inlets, wall panellinggaps, and inaccessible locations where ordinary pesticides are undesirable
-Used Anti-fungal foot soak, and Precursor for sodium perborate monohydrate that is used in detergents, as well as for boric acid and other borates

-Used Tackifier ingredient in casein, starch and dextrin based adhesives
-Used Precursor for boric acid, a tackifier ingredient in polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol based adhesives
-Used Fluoride detoxification, and Treatment for thrush in horses’ hooves

-To make indelible ink for dip pens by dissolving shellac into heated borax
-Used Curing agent for snake skins, Curing agent for salmon eggs, for use in sport fishing for salmon

-Used Swimming pool buffering agent to control pH, and Neutron absorber, used in nuclear reactors and spent fuel pools to control reactivity and to shut down a nuclear chain reaction
-Used As a micronutrient fertilizer to correct boron-deficient soils.

-Used Preservative in taxidermy, To clean the brain cavity of a skull for mounting, and To color fires with a green tint
-Was traditionally used to coat dry-cured meats such as hams to protect them from becoming fly-blown during further storage
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is found in some commercial vitamin supplements

-For stopping car radiator and engine block leaks
-Used by blacksmiths in forge welding
-Used as a woodworm treatment (diluted in water)

-Used in the treatment or prevention of wood rot in classic wood boats.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used in various household laundry and cleaning products and some tooth cleaning formulas.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also used as a component of glass and pottery glazes in the ceramics industry, as a solvent for metal-oxide slags in metallurgy, as a flux in welding and soldering, and as a fertiliser additive, a mouthwash, and a water softener.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is most often found in the form of a fine white crystalline powder easily soluble in water.
-Used Buffer agent, Disinfectant, Welding, Food additive, Agricultural, Pharmaceuticals, Personal care, Industries, Pharma, Cleaning, Cosmetics, Water Treatment, Food, and Agrobusiness.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a preservative offering the same possibilities as boric acid (E284).
In many countries, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)'s use is limited exclusively to caviar (e.g. also in the Czech Republic) and some marine animals, but in the past it was a traditional substance providing a protective wax film on stored meat products, for example hams, which were thus protected from insects.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) can also be found in some commercial vitamin supplements.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is found in nature in places where lakes dry up seasonally.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is synthetically prepared from other boron salts.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also known under the names borax and sodium tetraborate and belongs to the class of preservatives.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) (also known as Sodium borate) is a form of salt used in caviar production throughout the world.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) helps the preservation process, improving consistency and enhancing flavour.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has many uses today, as E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is an ingredient in detergents, bleaches, cosmetics, fire retardants and metallurgical products.
-In some countries E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a food preservative (due to its high salt content) and as a cooking ingredient (mainly in Asian cuisine).
You will recognize E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) by the code E285.

-But E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is mainly used as an ingredient in homemade cleaners and detergents.
Try adding 3 tablespoons of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) to your washing machine to increase the strength of your detergent.
Try putting a spoonful of E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) and a tablespoon of baking soda in your dishwasher.

-Preservative:
These are substances that extend the shelf life of food and protect food against microbial spoilage
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a preservative that offers the same possibilities of use as boric acid (E284).

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate), a natural acid present in small quantities in many foods, sometimes in high concentrations produced by bacteria in fermented foods, such as types of Swiss cheese.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is also produced on a large scale by the bacteria in the large intestine.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as preservatives, mainly against fungi.
-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a food preservative and is represented by the food labeling E number E283 in Europe and by the INS number 283 in Australia and New Zealand.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as an antimicrobial agent in bread to prevent germination of some types of bacteria which causes sticky yellow patches to occur.
-Preservative:
Prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms which may be harmful.

-The typical products are flour products, where E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as a mold inhibitor, and a means of reducing the yeast content of bread.
In EU, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is approved to use as food additive.
-The function(s) performed by the food additive when used in cooking.

-E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is used as an antimicrobial agent in bread to prevent germination of some types of bacteria which causes sticky yellow patches to occur.
-Used Typical products include bakery products, dairy products.
-Used Preservative, antimould and antirope agent

HYDRATES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
The term E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) properly refers to the so called decahydrate Na2B4O7·10H2O, more correctly written Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O.
However, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) may be applied also to the related compounds.

E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE) PENTAHYDRATE:
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has the formula Na2B4O7·5H2O, more properly Na2B4O5(OH)4·3H2O
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is a colorless solid with density is 1.880 kg/m3 that crystallizes from water solutions above 60.8 °C in the rhombohedral crystal system.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs naturally as the mineral tinkhanite.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) can be obtained by heating the decahydrate above 61 °C.

ANHYDROUS E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
Anhydrous E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) is sodium tetraborate proper, with formula Na2B4O7.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) can be obtained by heating any hydrate to 300 °C.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has one amorphous (glassy) form and three crystalline forms -- α, β, and γ, with melting points of 1015, 993 and 936 K respectively.
α-Na2B4O7 is the stable form.

NATURAL SOURCES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) occurs naturally in evaporite deposits produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes.
The most commercially important deposits are found in: Turkey; Boron, California; and Searles Lake, California.

Also, E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) has been found at many other locations in the Southwestern United States, the Atacama desert in Chile, newly discovered deposits in Bolivia, and in Tibet and Romania.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) can also be produced synthetically from other boron compounds.
Naturally occurring E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) (known by the trade name Rasorite–46 in the United States and many other countries) is refined by a process of recrystallization

HISTORY of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet.
Native tincal from Tibet, Persia, and other parts of Asia was traded via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th century AD.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith's Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the 20 Mule Team Borax trademark, named for the method by which E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was originally hauled out of the California and Nevada deserts.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was first discovered in dry lake in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th century.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate)came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith’s Pacific Borax Company began to market and popularize borax usage as a cleaner.

In artisanal gold mining, the borax method is sometimes used as a substitute for toxic mercury in the gold extractionprocess.
E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the Philippines in the 1900s.

E 285 (Sodium tetraborate) was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and was imported via the Silk Road to the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th Century AD.

ETYMOLOGY of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
The English word borax is Latinized: the Middle English form was boras, from Old French boras, bourras.
That may have been from Medieval Latin baurach (another English spelling), borac(-/um/em), borax, along with Spanish borrax (> borraj) and Italian borrace, in the 9th century.

The words tincal and tincar were adopted into English in the 17th century from Malay tingkal and from Urdu/Persian Arabic تنکار‎ tinkār/tankār; thus the two forms in English.
These all appear to be related to the Sanskrit टांकण ṭānkaṇa.

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
Molecular Weight: 201.22
Appearance Form: crystalline
Color: white
Odor: odorless
Odor Threshold: Not applicable
pH: 9,2 at 25 g/l at 20 °C
Melting point/freezing point:
Melting point/range: 741 °C - lit.
Initial boiling point and boiling range: 1.575 °C - (decomposition)
Flash point: Not applicable

Evaporation rate: No data available
Flammability (solid, gas): The product is not flammable.
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: No data available
Vapor pressure: 7,3 hPa at 1.200 °C
Vapor density: No data available
Density: 2,367 g/cm3 at 25 °C - lit.
Relative density: No data available
Water solubility: 49,74 g/l at 20 °C
Partition coefficient:
n-octanol/water:

log Pow: -1,53 at 22 °C - Bioaccumulation is not expected.
Autoignition temperature: does not ignite
Decomposition temperature: No data available
Viscosity
Viscosity, kinematic: No data available
Viscosity, dynamic: No data available
Explosive properties No data available
Oxidizing properties: none

Other safety information:
Dissociation constant: 8,94 at 20 °C
Molecular Weight: 381.4
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count: 10
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count: 17
Rotatable Bond Count: 0
Exact Mass: 382.0868084
Monoisotopic Mass: 382.0868084
Topological Polar Surface Area: 102 Å²
Heavy Atom Count: 23

Formal Charge: 0
Complexity: 121
Isotope Atom Count: 0
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count: 0
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count: 0
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count: 0
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count: 0
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count: 13
Compound Is Canonicalized: Yes

FIRST AID MEASURES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Description of first-aid measures:
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.

*If inhaled:
After inhalation:
Fresh air.
Call in physician.

*In case of skin contact:
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing.
Rinse skin with water/ shower.
Consult a physician.

*In case of eye contact:
After eye contact:
Rinse out with plenty of water.
Call in ophthalmologist.
Remove contact lenses.

*If swallowed:
After swallowing:
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most).
Consult a physician.

-Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed:
No data available

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains.

-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains.
Collect, bind, and pump off spills.
Take up carefully.
Dispose of properly.
Clean up affected area.

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Extinguishing media:
*Suitable extinguishing media:
Use extinguishing measures that are appropriate to local circumstances and the surrounding environment.

*Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Control parameters:
--Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
--Personal protective equipment:

*Eye/face protection
Use Safety glasses.

*Skin protection:
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0,11 mm
Break through time: 480 min

Splash contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0,11 mm
Break through time: 480 min

*Body Protection:
protective clothing.

-Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains.

HANDLING and STORAGE of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Precautions for safe handling:
*Advice on safe handling:
Work under hood.

*Hygiene measures:
Immediately change contaminated clothing.
Apply preventive skin protection.
Wash hands and face after working with substance.

-Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
*Storage conditions
Tightly closed.
Dry.
Keep in a well-ventilated place.
Keep locked up or in an area accessible only to qualified or authorized persons.

STABILITY and REACTIVITY of E 285 (SODIUM TETRABORATE):
-Reactivity:
No data available

-Chemical stability:
The product is chemically stable under standard ambient conditions (room temperature).

-Conditions to avoid:
no information available

-Incompatible materials:
No data available

SYNONYMS:
Sodium tetraborate
Sodium biborate
Sodium pyroborate
Anhydrous tetraborate
Boron Sodium Oxide
Boric Acid Disodium Salt
Anhydrous Borax
Borax Glass
Disodium Tetraborate
FR 28
FR 28 (borate)
Fireless B
Fireless B Liquid
Fused Borax
Granubor
Rasorite 65
Sodium Biborate
Sodium Borate
Sodium Boron Oxide (Na2B4O7)
Spraybor
2,4,6-Trioxa-1,3,5,7-Tetraboraheptane-3,5-Diolate, 1,7-Dioxo-, Disodium Salt
Borax
Borax Anhydrous, Sodium Tetraborate Anhydrous
Borax glass
Boric acid (H2B4O7), disodium salt
Boric acid (H2B4O7), disodium salt
Boron sodium oxide (B4Na2O7)
Boron sodium oxide (B4Na2O7)
Boron(+3) Cation
DC Dehybor
Dehybor
Dinatriumtetraborat, wasserfrei
Disodium
Disodium Bicyclo[3.3.1]Tetraboroxane-3,7-Diolate
Disodium tetraborate,anhydrous
E 285
Ecoboron PRO
Etibor 68
Fr 28
Heptahydrate
Natriumtetraborat, Wasserfrei
Oxygen(-2) Anion
Sodium Tetraborate, Gran
Sodium biborate
Sodium boron oxide (Na2B4O7)
Sodium boron oxide (Na2B4O7)
Sodium tetraborate
Sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7)
Sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7)
Tetraborate de disodium anhydre
Tetraborato De Disodio Anhidro
Borax
Borax (B4Na2O7.10H2O)
Borax decahydrate
SODIUM BORATE, DECAHYDRATE
Sodium tetraborate decahydrate
UNII-91MBZ8H3QO
91MBZ8H3QO
Sodium pyroborate decahydrate
DISODIUMTETRABORATETRIHYDRATE
disodium;3,7-dioxido-2,4,6,8,9-pentaoxa-1,3,5,7-tetraborabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane;decahydrate
Neobor
Antipyonin
Borascu
Boricin
Dehybor
Granubor
Solubor
Spraybor
Tronabor
Jaikin
Gerstley borate
Borax granular
Bura
Gertley borate
Puffed borax
Boro-spray
Borax [ISO]
Na2B4O7 decahydrate
20 Mule Team Borax
Sodium borate [JAN:NF]
Sodium tetraborate anhydrous
B4H20Na2O17
CCRIS 4946
HSDB 328
INS NO.285
Sodium boron oxide (na2b4o7)
CHEMBL3833375
DTXSID2034384
INS-285
DTXSID701014356
Borax (Na2(B4O7).10H2O)
AKOS015913997
AKOS030228672
Borates, tetra, sodium salts, decahydrate
AI3-51683
Boron sodium oxide (B4Na2O7), decahydrate
E-285
Q5319
Z3737
Sodium borate decahydrate (Na2B4O7.10H2O)
B-0150
Boric acid (H2B4O7), disodium salt, decahydrate
Q26840931
Disodium 3,7-dioxido-2,4,6,8,9-pentaoxa-1,3,5,7-tetraborabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane decahydrate
BORAX GLASS
BORIC ACID (H2B4O7), DISODIUM SALT
BORON SODIUM OXIDE (B4NA2O7)
DEHYBOR
DISODIUM TETRABORATE
E-285
FUSED BORAX
GRANUBOR
INS NO.285
INS-285
SPRAYBOR
Borax(B4Na2O7.10H2O)
Sodium tetraborate decahydrate
Na2B4O7 · 10H2O
Na2B4O7 10H2O
Borax (B4Na2O7.10H2O)
Borascu
Borax decahydrate
Boric acid (H2B4O7), disodium salt, decahydrate
Boricin
Boron sodium oxide (B4Na2O7), decahydrate
Bura
Disodium tetraborate decahydrate
Gerstley borate
Sodium biborate decahydrate
Sodium borate (Na2B4O7), decahydrate
Sodium pyroborate decahydrate
Solubor
Three Elephant
Tincal
Natriumtetraborat Decahydrat
Sodium borate decahydrate
Dinatriumtetraborat Decahydrat
Sodium borate, decahydrate
di-Natriumtetraborat-Decahydrat
Dinatriumtetraborat-10-hydrat
Natriumbiborat Decahydrat
Natriumpyroborat Decahydrat
E 285
Dinatriumtetraborat-Decahydrat
Borax deca Hydrate
di-Natriumtetraborat-10-Hydrat
di-Sodium tetraborate decahydrate
C.I. Direct Green 91
4-octylbenzoic acid
Borax
fused