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Sodium pentaborate
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<p>Sodium pentaborate, more properly disodium decaborate, is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> of <a href="/facts/Sodium/eYuSPu2V">sodium</a>, <a href="/facts/Boron/Pmwgd7Mf">boron</a>, and <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a>; a <a href="/facts/Salt_(chemistry)/lsSKwGpn">salt</a> with <a href="/facts/Elemental_formula/mc8K2H8Y">elemental formula</a> NaB5O8, Na2B10O16, or Na2O·5B2O3. It is a colorless crystalline solid, soluble in water. </p><p>The compound is often encountered or traded as <a href="/facts/Hydrate/dev82l69">hydrates</a> NaB5O8·<i>n</i>H2O, Na2B10O16·2<i>n</i>H2O, or Na2O·5B2O3·2<i>n</i>H2O for <i>n</i> = 2, 4, 5, or other values. This formula is often misleading as some of the water molecules are actually <a href="/facts/Hydroxyl/1Hs2QAEv">hydroxyl</a> groups <a href="/facts/Covalent_bond/EzMLf3Pz">covalently</a> attached to boron atoms. </p><p>The compound is used in <a href="/facts/Agriculture/TGztqzJs">agriculture</a> as a boron supplement in <a href="/facts/Fertilizer/ysh3r6NJ">fertilizer</a> with various trade names such as Solubor and Aquabor. It has also been tested as an additive to improve <a href="/facts/Plasma_electrolytic_oxidation/3o6KNJrz">plasma electrolytic oxidation</a> of <a href="/facts/Magnesium/XyIhd2FG">magnesium</a> alloys. It is also used in <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor/8xqjIbge">nuclear reactors</a> as a <a href="/facts/Neutron_poison/bkruR3yz">neutron absorber</a>/poison. </p><p>The name "sodium pentaborate" has also been used for a distinct compound with formula Na3B5O8·<i>n</i>H2O, better called <a href="/facts/Trisodium_pentaborate/0gm7mYQN">trisodium pentaborate</a>. </p>