[Karen W. (OP)]

I was just curious as I have seen it used as a deterent for  ants etc. Even heard it used in association with eye washes for babies I believe.. Please correct me if I am wrong, I just want to know more!

[paul.fr]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boric_acid

for all, probably all, your boric acid questions.

[Karen W. (OP)]

DUDE I COULD HAVE WENT TO WIKI!! LOL THANKS PAUL!! HEE HEE HEE!!

[Karen W. (OP)]

1652 to 1715 wow its been around forever.. thank you.. do you know any other uses not listed on wiki?

[paul.fr]

do you know any other uses not listed on wiki?

More.....i did not even know half the uses listed on wiki, let alone know any more...LOL

[Karen W. (OP)]

HEE HEE HEE LOL!!!

[lightarrow]

If you dissolve some boric acid in alcohol (ethyl alcohol) and let it react by heating it some minutes, the flame of the alcohol will be coloured of light green. Better with methyl alcohol.

The colour is due to ethyl-borate (or methyl-borate) and can be used to discover the element boron in compounds.

[Karen W. (OP)]

Uses  for boric acid,  LOL tons of them!

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boric_acid


It can be used as an antiseptic for minor burns or cuts and is sometimes used in dressings or salves or is applied in a very dilute solution as an eye wash. As an anti-bacterial compound, boric acid can also be used as an acne treatment. It is poisonous if taken internally or inhaled, although it is generally not considered to be much more toxic than table salt (based on its mammal LD50 rating of 2660mg/kg body mass).[1]

Boric acid is popularly used among fire jugglers and fire spinners dissolved in methylated spirit to give a bright green flame.

Boric acid can be used to treat yeast and fungal infections such as candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections) by filling gelcaps with boric acid powder and inserting two into the vaginal canal at bedtime for three to four nights in a row. It is also used as prevention of athlete's foot, by inserting powder in the socks or stockings, and in solution can be used to treat some kinds of otitis externa (ear infection) in both humans and animals. The preservative in urine sample bottles (red cap) in the UK is Boric acid.

It is often used as a relatively nontoxic insecticide, for killing cockroaches, termites, fire ants, fleas, and many other insects. It can be used directly in powdered form for fleas and cockroaches, or mixed with sugar or grape jelly for ants. It is also a component of many commercial insecticides. In this use, especially in the case of cockroaches, the boric acid in the form of a powder is applied to areas frequented by the insects. The lightweight particles cling to the legs of the insects and eventually cause fatal chemical burns. Boric acid for this use in residential apartments is sold commercially in urban areas afflicted with cockroaches. (Insect control ref: [2])

Sodium borate, a mild antiseptic, and other desirable ingredients may also be included. for ocular suface treatment, such as dry eye.

Silly Putty was originally made by adding boric acid to silicone oil. Now name-brand Silly Putty also contains significant amounts of elemental silicon (silicon binds to the silicone and allows the material to bounce 20% higher).

Boric acid is used in nuclear power plants to slow down the rate at which fission is occurring. Fission chain reactions are generally driven by the amount of neutrons present (as products from previous fissions). Boron has a high cross-section for absorption of neutrons and is therefore dissolved into the primary coolant which circulates through the reactor. By changing the concentration of boric acid in the water, fission can be regulated. Boron is also dissolved into the spent fuel pools containing used uranium rods. The concentration is high enough to keep fissions at a minimum.

In the jewelry industry, boric acid is often used in combination with denatured alcohol to reduce surface oxidation and firescale from forming on metals during annealing and soldering operations.

Borates including boric acid have been used since the time of the Greeks for cleaning, preserving food, and other activities.

Lithium boric acid is the lithium salt of boric acid and is used in the laboratory as buffer for gel. TBE buffer is widely used for the electrophoresis of nucleic acids and has a higher buffer capacity than a TAE Buffer. It can be used for DNA and RNA polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis.

It is used in pyrotechnics to prevent the amide-forming reaction between aluminum and nitrates. A small amount of boric acid is added to the composition to neutralize alkaline amides that can react with the aluminum.

It is also used in India and across the world to dust down Carrom Boards to decrease friction and increase speed of play. It is also used in mfg. of remming mass

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Albertto, thats cool!!

[eric l]

And appart from the uses already mentioned, boric acid is a standard cure against sweaty feet !

btw, we once worked on a project involving boric acid (as a cross linking agent); but as things did not turn out the way we wished, it got micknamed "boring acid".

[Karen W. (OP)]

And appart from the uses already mentioned, boric acid is a standard cure against sweaty feet !

btw, we once worked on a project involving boric acid (as a cross linking agent); but as things did not turn out the way we wished, it got micknamed "boring acid".

These are more what I had in mind, Helpful uses for thr boric acid! LOL sweaty feet. I wonder if it helps with sweaty feet what would help with cold feet besides thicker socks, movement, and warm shoes? LOL

[lightarrow]

I wonder if it helps with sweaty feet what would help with cold feet besides thicker socks, movement, and warm shoes? LOL

Black powder?  []

[eric l]

I just added the sweaty feet because Wikipedia did not mention them.

I may add two cases (appart from the research project mentioned before) where I have personal experience with boric acid :

• the use of boric acid as a fire retardant in particle board (relatively high concentrations :  about 5 % by weight, added as powder)
• from the (almost forgotten) days of silver based photography :  the use of boric acid to make the prints more water resistant after glazing

As for the sources of boric acid :  it is available as a mineral, but most of it comes from crystallization from acidified solutions of borax.

[Karen W. (OP)]

I wonder if it helps with sweaty feet what would help with cold feet besides thicker socks, movement, and warm shoes? LOL

Black powder?  []

LOL who has the matches? LOL

[Karen W. (OP)]

I just added the sweaty feet because Wikipedia did not mention them.

I may add two cases (appart from the research project mentioned before) where I have personal experience with boric acid :

• the use of boric acid as a fire retardant in particle board (relatively high concentrations :  about 5 % by weight, added as powder)
• from the (almost forgotten) days of silver based photography :  the use of boric acid to make the prints more water resistant after glazing

As for the sources of boric acid :  it is available as a mineral, but most of it comes from crystallization from acidified solutions of borax.

Thanks Eric for the info and the one this morning.. I found it very interesting!!