5004
T3D4949
Disodium tetraborate, anhydrous
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, has a wide variety of uses. It is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, and as a precursor for other boron compounds. In artisanal gold mining, the borax method is sometimes used as a substitute for toxic mercury in the gold extraction process.
Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, according to one study, is not acutely toxic. Sodium tetraborate decahydrate was once registered as an insecticide for a brief period, and the product was issued a "Danger" signal word by the EPA. Registration was allowed to lapse after the initial one year registration due to the fact the product could not be legally sold over the counter as an insecticide due to the dangers the product posed to the general public. Danger is the highest level signal word issued by the EPA. Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats: a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. The lethal dose is not necessarily the same for humans.
Sufficient exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure."
Borax was added to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list on 16 December 2010. The SVHC candidate list is part of the EU Regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 2006 (REACH), and the addition was based on the revised classification of borax as toxic for reproduction category 1B under the CLP Regulations. Substances and mixtures imported into the EU which contain borax are now required to be labelled with the warnings "May damage fertility" and "May damage the unborn child". (Wikipedia)
1303-96-4 and 1330-43-4 and 12179-04-3
B4Na2O7
Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Borax is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, neutron-capture shields for radioactive sources, a texturing agent in cooking, and as a precursor for other boron compounds. In artisanal gold mining, the borax method is sometimes used as a substitute for toxic mercury in the gold extraction process.
2014-09-17T20:02:20Z
2016-11-09T01:09:14Z
10219853
true
[Na+].[Na+].[O-]B1OB2OB([O-])OB(O1)O2
B4Na2O7
InChI=1S/B4O7.2Na/c5-1-7-3-9-2(6)10-4(8-1)11-3;;/q-2;2*+1
UQGFMSUEHSUPRD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
201.219
201.981163568
Exogenous
Solid
8395345
CHEM003905