Borax (sodium borate)

Turkey, California, other parts of the Southwestern US, Chile, Tibet, Romania are some places where natural borax is found. See link for more information.

This is a good beginning answer. In the United States borax was first discovered at Borax Lake in northern California. Then it was found in a dry lakebed at Salt Wells near Fallon, Nevada in 1859. For the next 30 years borax was scraped up from the surface of these dry lakebeds throughout Nevada at Columbus Marsh, Teels Marsh, Rhodes Marsh, Amargosa Valley and Death Valley. In 1890 underground deposits of borax were found known as Colemanite near Barstow in the Mojave Desert. From 1906-1925 underground mining moved to the mountains east of Death Valley. In 1925 borax was found near Kramer Junction near the town of Mojave and that deposit went to open pit mining in 1956. Today that pit is the largest open pit mine in the state of California and is the largest borax producing mine in the country. It is owned by Rio Tinto Borax and provides the borax to Dial Corp for the Twenty Mule Team Borax product. Please see the Gold Creek link below for more borax history and the film The Twenty Mule Team of Death Valley.

It is not recommended to mix lye (sodium hydroxide) and borax (sodium borate) as they are both strong alkaline substances that can react unpredictably and produce harmful fumes or heat. It is important to always follow proper handling and safety guidelines when working with chemicals.

Borax and water yield a basic solution with a pH greater than 7. Borax is a salt of boric acid and has many household uses, such as cleaning and pest control. Mixing borax with water can create a solution that is effective for these purposes.

Sodium in Kirkland Signature water is listed as "mineral salts" on the label, which typically includes sodium chloride. The specific amount of sodium can vary, but it is usually very low, around 0-5 milligrams per serving. It's always best to check the nutritional label on the bottle for accurate information.

Borax powder is not typically sold in drugstores like Mercury Drug, as it is more commonly found in stores that specialize in household products or cleaning supplies. You may have better luck finding borax powder in hardware stores, supermarkets, or online retailers that carry cleaning products.

Yes, mixing borax and sugar can effectively kill ants. The sugar attracts the ants and they carry the borax back to their colony, which ultimately poisons them. However, it's important to keep this mixture out of reach of children and pets as borax can be harmful if ingested in large quantities.

Borax does not dissolve in oils as it is a water-soluble compound. Mixing borax with oils will result in the borax staying as solid particles separate from the oil phase.

Borax has a mild, soapy and slightly alkaline smell. Some people describe it as similar to that of laundry detergent or chlorine.

To make slime, you will need glue, water, baking soda, saline solution, and optional food coloring. Mix the glue with water, add baking soda, and then slowly incorporate saline solution until the desired slime consistency is reached. Feel free to customize with glitter or beads for added fun!

Yes, borax can be an effective natural remedy to kill silverfish. When silverfish come into contact with borax, it can dehydrate and kill them. Sprinkling borax in areas where silverfish are present or creating a paste with borax and water can help eliminate them.

Borax is not typically recommended for treating scabies or killing scabies eggs. It is best to use prescription medication from a healthcare provider to effectively treat scabies and eliminate the eggs.

No, it is not safe to mix Clorox bleach with borax as this combination can create toxic fumes. It is important to always follow the instructions on the product labels and avoid mixing different cleaning chemicals together to prevent any potential hazards.

No, borax does not fizz. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that dissolves in water. When mixed with an acid, it can create a slight bubbling reaction, but it is not considered to fizz in the same way as a carbonate compound.

There has been a reported shortage of borax due to increased demand and supply chain disruptions. This has led to difficulty in finding borax in some regions and price increases in certain markets.

Alum and borax are not directly related, as they are different chemical compounds. Alum is typically potassium aluminum sulfate, while borax is sodium borate. However, both substances have been historically used for various household and industrial purposes, such as cleaning and preserving food.

Borax is a compound composed of elements such as boron, sodium, and oxygen. It is neither an element nor a mixture.

Formula: Na2B4O7·10H2O or Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O

B4O5(OH)4^2-

there are four boron atoms in borax

the molecular weight of boron is 10.811g/mol

to convert to molecules -> moles times avagadro's number (6.023 x 10^23)

->> 4 x 6.023 x 6.023 x 10^23 = 2.4092 x 10^24 (you can carry it to this many significant figures because 4 and avagadro's number [6.023 x 10^23] are exact/absolute number)

No, borax powder and carom board powder are not the same. Borax powder is a chemical compound used for various household cleaning purposes, while carom board powder is a fine powder applied to a carom board to reduce friction and improve the movement of the game pieces.

Yes, borax does dissolve in water. It forms a clear solution when mixed with water.

Glue contains polymers that give it flexibility and stickiness. When borax is added to the glue, it reacts with the polymers to create cross-links, forming a stretchy and moldable material known as silly putty.

No, Oxiclean is not a form of borax. Oxiclean is a commercial brand of stain remover that contains various active ingredients for removing stains and brightening clothes, while borax is a naturally occurring mineral that is used for cleaning and laundry purposes.

Yes, the amount of borax does affect it, I know that because I did the actual experiment, when I was done, I bounced it on the floor and it bounced low. And, it was mushy, too. I made another one the next day, and made sure I added Moreborax powder. When I was done, I bounced it on the floor, (which I did for ball #1) and it bounced high this time. And, it wasn't mushy, it was hard. (P.S. Be sure that after you make ONE ball, put it in a zip-lock bag.) (I put one in caps lock because, if you make two balls and put them in the same zip-lock bag, then they will end up sticking to each other.)

The mixture is likely to turn blue due to the interaction between the anthocyanin pigments in red cabbage and the alkaline nature of borax.

Borax crystals grow faster than sugar crystals because borax molecules are able to bond and arrange more easily due to their structure, resulting in faster crystal formation. Also, borax solutions tend to be more saturated than sugar solutions, providing more building blocks for crystal growth.