Sodium tetrafluoroborate is an inorganic compound with formula NaBF4. It is a salt that forms colorless or white rhombic crystals and is soluble in water (108 g/100 mL) but less soluble in organic solvents.
Sodium tetrafluoroborate is used in some fluxes used for brazing and to produce boron trifluoride.
Preparation
Sodium tetrafluoroborate can be prepared by neutralizing tetrafluoroboric acid with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide.3
NaOH + HBF4 → NaBF4 + H2O Na2CO3 + 2 HBF4 → 2 NaBF4 + H2O + CO2Alternatively the chemical can be synthesized from boric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and sodium carbonate:4
2H3BO3 + 8HF + Na2CO3 → 2NaBF4 + 7H2O + CO2Reactions and uses
On heating to its melting point, sodium tetrafluoroborate decomposes to sodium fluoride and boron trifluoride:5
NaBF4 → NaF + BF3It is a source of tetrafluoroborate anion, which is used in organic chemistry for the preparation of salts. Sodium tetrafluoroborate can be used for synthesis of ionic liquids, where tetrafluoroborate is the anion.
References
Milne, G. W. A (2005-07-11). Gardner's Commercially Important Chemicals: Synonyms, Trade Names, and Properties. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471735182. 9780471735182 ↩
Brauer, Georg (1963). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Vol. 1, 2nd Ed. New York: Academic Press. p. 220 & 222. ISBN 978-0121266011. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) 978-0121266011 ↩
Eagleson, Mary (1994). Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110114515. 9783110114515 ↩
Brauer, Georg (1963). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Vol. 1, 2nd Ed. New York: Academic Press. p. 220 & 222. ISBN 978-0121266011. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) 978-0121266011 ↩
Richard J. Lewis, Sr (2008-07-14). Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference. Wiley. ISBN 9780470334454. 9780470334454 ↩