Boric acid anomaly

In the binary glass-forming systems of alkali metal borates, it is possible to observe change in the trend of a number of physico-chemical properties in the concentration range of approximately 20 mole % of alkali metal oxide. This phenomenon is known in the literature as boric acid anomaly , and it is due to the change in the structure of the B2O3 melt caused by the alkali metal oxide addition and is related to the ability of boron to change its coordination number. 

Boric acid is a relatively weak acid compared to other conunon acids, as illustrated by the acid equilibrium constants given in Table 4. Boric acid has a similar acid strength to sihcic acid. Calculated pH values based on the boric acid equihbrium constant are significantly higher than those observed experimentally. This anomaly has been attributed to secondary equilibria between B(OH)3, B(OH)4, and polyborate species. Interestingly, the aqueous solubihty of boric acid can be increased by the addition of salts such as potassium chloride and sodium sulfate, but decreased by the addition of others salts, such as the chlorides of lithium and sodium. Basic anions and other nucleophiles such as fluorides and borates significantly increase boric acid solubility. 

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