Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Boric Acid
Part 4, Monographs for Reagent Chemicals: General Descriptions, Specifications, and Tests
eISBN: 9780841230460
Tom Tyner Chair, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents
James Francis Secretary, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents

ABSTRACT
This monograph for Boric Acid provides, in addition to common physical constants, a general description including
Publication Date (Web): February 28, 2017 | doi: 10.1021/acsreagents.4059
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typical appearance, applications, change in state (approximate), aqueous solubility, and pKa. The monograph also
details the following specifications and corresponding tests for verifying that a substance meets ACS Reagent Grade
specifications including: Assay, Insoluble in Methanol, Nonvolatile with Methanol, Chloride, Phosphate, Sulfate, Heavy
Metals, Iron, and Calcium.

H3BO3 Formula Wt 61.83 CAS No. 10043-35-3

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Typical appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . colorless or white solid

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . primary standard; buffer
Change in state (approximate) . . . . . . . . . . . . melting point, 171 °C
Aqueous solubility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 g in 100 mL at 21 °C
pKa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2

SPECIFICATIONS

Assay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ≥99.5% H3BO3

Maximum Allowable
Insoluble in methanol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005%
Nonvolatile with methanol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%
Chloride (Cl) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Phosphate (PO4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Sulfate (SO4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Heavy metals (as Pb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4059
© 2017 American Chemical Society A ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4

ACS Reagent Chemicals

ACS Reagent Chemicals; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.
 ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Iron (Fe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%

Calcium (Ca) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005%

TESTS
Assay
(By acid–base titrimetry). Weigh, to the nearest 0.1 mg, 2.5 g of sample, and transfer to a 250 mL glass-stoppered flask.
Dissolve in a mixture of 50 mL of water and 75 mL of glycerol, previously neutralized to a pH of 9.0 with 0.1 N sodium
hydroxide, using a pH meter. Titrate with 1 N sodium hydroxide volumetric solution to a pH of 9.0. One milliliter of 1 N
sodium hydroxide corresponds to 0.06183 g of H3BO3.
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Insoluble in Methanol
Heat 20 g with 200 mL of methanol under complete reflux until the acid is dissolved, then reflux for 30 min. Filter through a
tared, preconditioned filtering crucible, wash thoroughly with hot methanol, and dry at 105 °C.

Nonvolatile with Methanol

To 2.0 g of the sample in a platinum dish, add 25 mL of methanol and 0.5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and evaporate to dryness.
Repeat the evaporation twice, each with 15 mL of methanol and 0.3 mL of hydrochloric acid. Add to the residue 0.10 mL of
sulfuric acid, and ignite at 600 ± 25 °C for 15 min.

Chloride
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Chloride]. Use 1.0 g dissolved in 20 mL of warm water.

†
For the Determination of Phosphate, Sulfate, Heavy Metals, and Iron
S a m p l e S o l u t i o n A . To 10 g, add 10 mg of sodium carbonate, 100 mL of methanol, and 5 mL of hydrochloric acid.
Digest in a covered beaker on a hot plate (~100 °C) to effect dissolution, then uncover, and evaporate to dryness. Add
75 mL of methanol and 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and repeat the digestion and evaporation. Dissolve the residue in 5
mL of 1 N acetic acid, and digest in a covered beaker on a hot plate (~100 °C) for 15 min. Filter, and dilute with water
to 100 mL (1 mL = 0.1 g).

Phosphate†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Phosphate; Procedure for Phosphate, Method 1 (Direct Molybdenum Blue)]. Add 0.5
mL of nitric acid to 20 mL of sample solution A (2 g sample), and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 25 mL of
approximately 0.5 N sulfuric acid, and continue as described.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4059
© 2017 American Chemical Society B ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4

ACS Reagent Chemicals

ACS Reagent Chemicals; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.
 ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents
†
Sulfate
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Sulfate; Procedure for Sulfate, Method 1]. Use 5.0 mL of sample solution A (0.5 g
sample).

Heavy Metals†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Heavy Metals (as Lead); Procedure for Heavy Metals, Method 1]. Dilute 20 mL of
sample solution A (2 g sample) with water to 25 mL.

Iron†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Iron; Procedure for Iron, Method 1 (Ammonium Thiocyanate)]. Use 10 mL of sample
solution A (1 g sample).

Calcium
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(By flame AAS, [Part 2: Trace and Ultratrace Elemental Analysis; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Analysis; Procedure for
Flame AAS]).

For the Determination of Calcium

S a m p l e S t o c k S o l u t i o n . To 20 g, add 20 mg of sodium carbonate, 200 mL of methanol, and 10 mL of hydrochloric

acid. Digest in a covered beaker on a hot plate (~100 °C) to effect solution, then uncover, and evaporate to dryness.
Add 75 mL of methanol and 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and repeat the digestion and evaporation. Dissolve the residue
in 5 mL of 1 N acetic acid, and digest in a covered beaker on a hot plate (~100 °C) for 15 min. Filter, and dilute with
water to volume in a 200 mL volumetric flask (1 mL = 0.1 g).

For the Determination of Calcium

Element Wavelength (nm) Sample Wt (g) Standard Added Flame Type* Background
(mg) Correction
Ca 422.7 1.0 0.05; 0.10 N/A No
*N/A is nitrous oxide/acetylene.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4059
© 2017 American Chemical Society C ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4

ACS Reagent Chemicals

ACS Reagent Chemicals; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.