Editing Borax (section)

== Uses ==
[[File:Borax.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Borax-based [[laundry detergent]]]]

Borax is used in pest control solutions because it is toxic to ants and rats. Because it is slow-acting, worker ants will carry the borax to their nests and poison the rest of the colony.<ref name=klotz2000/> Borax is more effective than zinc borate for termite control but a 1997 paper concluded that exposing at least 10% of the total colony population was needed for effective treatment. In Japan the practice of laying newspapers treated with o-boric acid and borax under buildings has been effective in controlling [[Coptotermes formosanus]] and [[Reticulitermes speratus]] populations. Decaying wood treated with 0.25 to 0.5 percent DOT was also found to be effective for baiting [[Heterotermes aureus]] populations. The paper concluded: "Borate baits would undoubtably be helpful in the long-term, but do not appear sufficient as a sole method of structural protection."<ref>{{cite journal  | title = Review of recent research on the use of borates for termite prevention | journal = In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Wood Protection with Diffusible Preservatives and Pesticides |date=1997 | url = http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ctahr/termite/aboutcontact/grace/pdfs/123.pdf  | pages = 85–92  }}</ref>

Borax is used in various household laundry and cleaning products,<ref name=HPD136/><ref name=USBor2022/> including the [[20 Mule Team Borax]] laundry booster, [[Boraxo]] powdered hand soap, and some [[tooth bleaching]] formulas.<ref name=hamm2004/><ref name=oneil2013/>

Borate ions (commonly supplied as boric acid) are used in biochemical and chemical laboratories to make [[buffer solution|buffers]], e.g. for [[polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]] of DNA and RNA, such as [[TBE buffer]] (borate buffered tris-hydroxymethylaminomethonium)<ref name=peac1967/><ref name=ande1981/> 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 solutions in [[dimethyl pimelimidate]] (DMP) based crosslinking reactions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harvey |first1=Dexter |last2=Rutledge |first2=Nicky |title=Industrial Chemistry |date=1 April 2019 |publisher=EdTech Press |location=Waltham Abbey |isbn=978-1-83947-197-1 |page=255 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Industrial_Chemistry/feLEDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dimethyl+pimelimidate+borax&pg=PA255&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

Borax 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]].

Borax alone does not have a high affinity for ''[[Hard water#Sources of hardness|hardness cations]]'', although it has been used for water-softening. Its chemical equation for ''[[water softening|water-softening]]'' is given below:

:{{chem2|[[calcium|Ca]](2+)(aq) + [[sodium|Na]]2[[boron|B]]4[[oxygen|O]]7(aq) → CaB4O7(s)↓ + 2 Na+(aq)}}
:{{chem2|[[magnesium|Mg]](2+)(aq) + Na2B4O7(aq) → MgB4O7(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.

A mixture of borax and [[ammonium chloride]] is used as a [[Flux (metallurgy)|flux]] when [[welding]] [[iron]] and [[steel]]. It lowers the melting point of the unwanted [[iron oxide]] ([[Mill scale|scale]]), allowing it to run off. Borax is also mixed with water as a flux when [[soldering]] [[jewelry]] [[metal]]s such as [[gold]] or [[silver]], where it allows the molten [[solder]] to [[Wetting|wet]] the metal and flow evenly into the joint.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hasluck |first1=Paul Nooncree |author1-link=Paul N. Hasluck |title=The Mechanic's Workshop Handybook |date=1895 |publisher=Crosby Lockwood |location=London |page=62 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Mechanic_s_Workshop_Handybook/R1xRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=borax+gold+jewellery&pg=PA62&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> Borax is also a good flux for "pre-tinning" [[tungsten]] with [[zinc]], making the tungsten soft-solderable.<ref name=dodd1966/> Borax is often used as a flux for [[forge welding]].<ref name="Moehring-2016" />

[[File:Borax wagons.jpg|thumb|Old [[steam tractor]] with borax wagons, [[Death Valley National Park]] ]]

In [[Artisanal mining|artisanal gold mining]], borax 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 it cannot directly replace mercury. Borax was reportedly used by gold miners in parts of the [[Philippines]] in the 1900s.<ref name=BSmith2012/><ref name=GEUS2008/> 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 borax method is used in northern [[Luzon]] in the Philippines, but miners have been reluctant to adopt it elsewhere for reasons that are not well understood.<ref name=appel2012/> The method has also been promoted in Bolivia<ref name=ande2015/> and Tanzania.<ref name=appel1969/>

A rubbery polymer sometimes called [[Slime (toy)|Slime]], [[Flubber (material)|Flubber]], 'gluep' or 'glurch' (or erroneously called [[Silly Putty]], which is based on silicone polymers), can be made by [[cross-link]]ing [[polyvinyl alcohol]] with borax. Making flubber from [[polyvinyl acetate]]-based [[glue]]s, such as [[Elmer's Products, Inc.|Elmer's Glue]], and borax is a common elementary science demonstration.<ref name=parr1998/><ref name=ChemAboutXXXX/>

Borax, given the [[E number]] ''E285'', is used as a [[food additive]] but this use is banned in some countries, such as [[Australia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]] and the [[United States]].<ref name=reil2019/> As a consequence, certain foods, such as [[caviar]], produced for sale in the United States contain higher levels of [[salt]] to assist preservation.<ref name=HansonLtd2008/> In addition to its use as a preservative, borax imparts a firm, rubbery texture to food. In [[China]], borax ({{lang-zh|c=硼砂|p=péng shā}} or {{lang-zh|c=月石|p=yuè shí}}) has been found in foods including wheat and rice noodles named ''[[lamian]]'' ({{lang-zh|s=拉面|p=lāmiàn}}), ''[[shahe fen]]'' ({{lang-zh|s=沙河粉|p=shāhéfěn}}), ''[[char kway teow]]'' ({{lang-zh|c=粿條|p=guǒ tiáo}}), and ''[[chee cheong fun]]'' ({{lang-zh|s=肠粉|p=chángfěn}}){{clarify|Most of these are dishes, not wheat and rice noodles, and at least one is just a dish made from another listed noodle.|date=March 2023}}<ref name="Chow2005" /> In [[Indonesia]], it is a common, but forbidden,<ref name="PomGo2021" /> additive to such foods as noodles, [[bakso]] (meatballs), and steamed rice.

[[File:Boron mine pit.jpg|thumbnail|Rio Tinto borax mine pit, [[Boron, California]]]]

Other uses include:

* Ingredient in [[vitreous enamel|enamel]] glazes<ref name=Sheff2019/>
* Component of [[glass]], [[pottery]], and [[ceramic]]s<ref name="Schubert-2003"/>
* Used as an additive in ceramic slips and [[ceramic glaze|glazes]] to improve fit on wet, greenware, and [[bisque (pottery)|bisque]]{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* [[Fire retardant]]<ref name=shen1998/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arkansasairandmilitary.com/post/artifact-friday-k2b-flight-suit | title=Artifact Friday: K2B Flight Suit | date=August 11, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=61 | title=K-2B Flying Coveralls }}</ref>
* [[Fungicide|Anti-fungal]] compound for [[cellulose insulation]]<ref name="Schubert-2003" />
* Mothproofing 10% solution for wool<ref name=CAltTech2016/>
* Pulverized for the prevention of stubborn pests (e.g. [[German cockroach]]es) in closets, pipe and cable inlets, wall [[panelling]] gaps, and inaccessible locations where ordinary [[pesticide]]s are undesirable<ref name=murr1989/>
* Precursor for [[sodium perborate|sodium perborate monohydrate]] that is used in [[detergent]]s, as well as for [[boric acid]] and other [[borate]]s{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* [[Tackifier]] ingredient in [[casein]], [[starch]] and [[dextrin]]-based adhesives<ref name=suar2011/>
* Precursor for [[boric acid]], a tackifier ingredient in [[polyvinyl acetate]], [[polyvinyl alcohol]]-based adhesives
* To make indelible ink for [[dip pen]]s by dissolving [[shellac]] into heated borax{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* [[Curing agent]] for [[snake]] skins{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* Curing agent for [[salmon]] eggs, for use in sport fishing for salmon<ref name=rams2021/>
* Swimming pool [[buffering agent]] to control [[pH]]<ref name=Pools2008/>
* [[Neutron absorber]], are used in [[boiling water reactor|nuclear reactor]]s and spent fuel pools to control reactivity and to shut down a nuclear chain reaction<ref name=BARC2010/>
* As a [[micronutrient]] [[fertilizer]] to correct [[Boron deficiency (plant disorder)|boron-deficient soils]]<ref name=NatBer2016/><ref name=SpeAnal2016/>
* [[Preservative]] in [[taxidermy]]<ref name=Taxid2021/>
* To color fires with a green tint<ref name=marie2016/>
* Traditionally used to coat dry-cured meats such as hams to improve the appearance and discourage flies<ref name=nich1991/><ref name=NHSBH1906/><ref name=IndonesiaDCP/>
* Used by [[blacksmith]]s in [[forge welding]]<ref name="Moehring-2016"/>
* Used as a [[Flux (metallurgy)|flux]] for melting metals and alloys in [[Casting (metalworking)|casting]] to draw out impurities and prevent [[Redox|oxidation]]{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* Used as a [[woodworm]] treatment (diluted in water){{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* 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.<ref name=latt1947/><ref name=latt1947b/>