Boric acid represents flavourless colourless crystal substance. Spirit solution of this acid is called boric alcohol. As a rule, for its preparation use 70% ethanol.
Physical and chemical properties
Borna name weak inorganic three-main acid, other its name — orthoboric. It presents itself colourless brilliant crystals in the form of small scales or crystal powder. Boric acid is dissolved in alcohol and other organic matter, when heating it loses water and forms at first metaboric acid, and then — boric anhydride. Water solutions of boric acid give subacidic reaction.
Boric alcohol — it solution of boric acid in ethyl alcohol, as a rule, for its preparation 70% use ethanol. Borata — salts of boric acid, receive them from various polyboric acids. When boric acid reacts with alcohols in the presence of the concentrated sulfuric acid, air which when firing burns with a green flame that is high-quality reaction to a pine forest are formed.
Boric acid can be met in the nature in hot springs where it is in the dissolved state or contains in couples. It is allocated from sublimates in craters of volcanoes and from hot springs in the form of mineral of a sassolin.
Application and contraindications
Boric acid is used in medicine as antiseptic and antimicrobial means, its water solutions are appointed for washing of eyes and rinsing of a mouth. Earlier often used it as resolvent for children and adults, but by-effects which bring restrictions in its application are revealed at present. At long use or overdose emergence of acute toxic reactions, such as diarrhea, nausea, headache, spasms, and in rare instances even shock states is possible. It is contraindicated to patient to apply boric acid with dysfunction of kidneys, to nursing mothers, pregnant women and children. It is not necessary to apply these medicines on extensive parts of the body. Ointments, pastes and powders with boric acid put at skin diseases. Boric alcohol is used as ear drops. 1%, 2% and 0.5% apply spirit solutions in the form of drops at sharp or chronic otitis and also to a leather processing at emergence of an intertrigo. Boric acid is a component of some contraceptives. At conjunctivitis appoint 2% water solution of boric acid for washing of a conjunctival bag. 3% use solution for treatment of dermatitis and for lotions at the becoming wet eczema. Large amounts of this acid are spent by production of enamel products, and in laboratory practice apply this substance to preparation of buffer systems.