Nomenclature
CAS number: 10043-35-3
Boric acid (H
3BO
3); boracic acid; orthoboric acid; Borofax (Burroughs Wellcome).
BH
3O
3; mol wt 61.83.
B 17.49%, H 4.89%, O 77.63%.
H
3BO
3.
Description and references
Occurs in nature as the mineral sassolite. Manuf: Faith, Keyes & Clark's
Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds.
(Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 153-158. Toxicity
study: Smyth et al., Am. Ind.
Hyg. Assoc. J. 30, 470 (1969). Review of toxicology
and human exposure: Toxicological Profile
for Boron (PB93-110674, 1992) 110 pp.
Properties
Colorless, odorless, transparent crystals, or
white granules or powder; slightly unctuous to the touch. mp ≈171°. d 1.48. Phase diagram for the B2O3.H2O system: Kracek et al., Am. J. Sci. 35A,
143 (1938). Volatile with steam. pH: 5.1 (0.1 molar). One gram
dissolves in 18 ml cold, 4 ml boiling water, in 18 ml cold, 6 ml boiling
alcohol, in 4 ml glycerol; soly in water is increased by HCl, citric
or tartaric acids. Soly of boric acid in glycerol solns of various
concns: Sciarra, Elliott, J. Am. Pharm. Assoc.
Sci. Ed. 49, 116 (1960). LD50 orally in rats: 5.14 g/kg (Smyth).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
by ingestion or absorption are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
erythematous lesions on skin and mucous membranes, circulatory collapse,
tachycardia, cyanosis, delirium, convulsions, coma. Chronic use may
cause borism (dry skin, eruptions, gastric disturbances). See E. Browning, Toxicity of Industrial Metals (Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 2nd ed., 1969) pp 90-97.Use
For weatherproofing wood and fireproofing fabrics;
as a preservative; manuf cements, crockery, porcelain, enamels, glass,
borates, leather, carpets, hats, soaps, artificial gems; in nickeling
baths; in buffers; cosmetics; printing and dyeing, painting; photography;
for impregnating wicks; electric condensers; hardening steel. Also
used as insecticide for cockroaches and black carpet beetles.
Therapeutic Category
Astringent, antiseptic.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Antibacterial and antifungal. Used chiefly
in aqueous solution or powders for external use.
Keywords
Antiseptic/Disinfectant; Astringent