Are Borax and Boric acid interchangeable?

[markbau]

I just ordered some Borax for use in mixing D76, I received "Boric Acid" Before I send it back I just want to check if Boric acid can be used in place of Borax, an internet search has not answered this question, it did tell me though that either can be used to kill cockroaches!

 

[Anon Ymous]

No, they're different things.

 

[koraks]

You could make borax from boric acid and sodium carbonate. Not sure if you want to though, for reasons of precision and additional work (compared to just buying the desired compound).
To be honest, if you ordered borax but we're sent boric acid, I'd just return it unless you're in a hurry.

 

[DREW WILEY]

One of em kills termites, the other kills cats.

 

[markbau]

Thanks for the answers, I'll send it back.

 

[jim appleyard]

You may be able to buy borax in the grocery store as "20 Mule Team Borax" if you don't want to support your starving chemical supplier. If you dig into past threads on the subject, you can read some really entertaining threads on the pro & cons of using store borax.

 

[drpsilver]

22 June 2019

Markbau:

Yes, you can use "20 Mule Team" borax, or the like. Just make sure that it is detergent and fragrance free.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[DREW WILEY]

Borate is so safe to mammals and so good at killing termites and fungus, that for a long time it was actually illegal to market it to do-it-yourselfers under exterminator or rot-preventative labeling. The trade didn't want people to know how safe and cheap it is. But you could buy something poisonous and carcinogenic instead just about anywhere! Borate is also an excellent fire-proofer, but remains soluble, so is not permanent on outside surfaces like wood shingle roofs. When I was a little kid growing up, 20 Mule Team Borax was the only soap available at school. It's a bit abrasive, but certainly works well.