Question

Aqueous solution of borax is:
A. Neutral
B. Amphoteric
C. Basic
D. Acidic

Answer 1

Hint: As borax is basic in nature so salt would also be basic.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Borax is a salt which is formed by the reaction of a strong base and a weak acid.
Where the strong base is \[NaOH\] and weak acid is \[{{H}_{3}}B{{O}_{3}}\].
When a strong base is reacted with weak acid it results in a salt of base.
Chemical formula of Borax is \[\,Na[{{B}_{4}}{{O}_{5}}{{(OH)}_{4}}].8{{H}_{2}}O\].
Borax is also known as the sodium nitrate salt or disodium tetraborate which is a kind of compound. As the name indicates it refers to the boron containing minerals. Borax is mostly used in making detergents, glazes, cosmetics. Borax is also used as an eliminating material in gold extraction as toxic mercury.
Borax has a tendency to convert into boric acid easily and aso into some other borates. If we make borax to come in contact with flame it gets a yellowish-green colour.
If we had an overexposure with the borax, we may get respiratory disorders. While talking about the pesticide’s borax is the well-known safest pesticide. Borax is the main component among the buffer solution, flame suppressor and also works as flux for the steel and iron. We use borax for the borax bead test which is a derivative of boric acid.
Slime is too formed by the mixing of glue and borax. Although the exposure to borax may result in the irritation of skin and also eye.
The correct option is C.

Note: Borax is a strong base so its aqueous solution is also in basic nature. Borax is also known as sodium borate. Its molar mass is \[381.37\, g/mole\]. Its boiling point is \[1575\,^\circ C \].