Chemical Industry Tips – Boron Oxide
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With the chemical formula B2O3, it is also known as boric anhydride. It can be prepared by heating boric acid to cause water loss: the resulting B2O3 is in a glassy state; if a low pressure is maintained and the temperature is raised slowly to about 400°C, after an extended period of time, water loss occurs, and crystalline B2O3 appears. Its melting point is 450°C and its boiling point is 2,250°C. B2O3 crystals have a planar layered structure. B2O3 is highly water-resistant and cannot be reduced by carbon even at white heat. It has strong hygroscopic properties and can be used as a desiccant; it dissolves in water to form boric acid, H3BO3, while releasing heat. B2O3 reacts with metal oxides to form metaborates; for example, CuO + B2O3 yields Cu(BO2)2. Therefore, molten B2O3 can dissolve many metal oxides to form complex colored boron glasses. B2O3 is primarily acidic in nature, but it can also exhibit alkaline properties; for example, when it reacts with P4O10, it forms boric acid phosphate, BPO4. The reaction is 2B2O3 + P4O10 = 4BPO4. The newly formed BPO4 is slightly soluble in water, but it becomes insoluble when heated. High-purity B2O3 is an epitaxial material for semiconductors.
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