Question

What is the formula of boric acid, and how do we use it in an acid-base titration?

Answer 1

Hint: An acid-base titration is a method of obtaining information about a solution that contains an acid or a base. The objective of a strong acid-strong base titration is to determine the concentration of an acid solution by titrating it with a known concentration of a basic solution, or vice versa, until neutralisation occurs.

Complete answer:
Boric Acid is a monobasic Lewis acid with the chemical formula $ {H_3}B{O_3} $ . It's an acid made up of four oxygen atoms, one phosphorus atom, and three hydrogen atoms. Acidum boricum, hydrogen borate, boracic acid, and orthoboric acid are some of the other names for boric acid.
Boric acid is a common antiseptic that is used to treat small cuts and burns. Additionally, this substance is employed in medicinal dressings and salves. As an eyewash, very dilute solutions of boric acid can be used. Boric acid can also be used to treat acne in people due to its antibacterial qualities.
Boric acid is an extremely weak acid that cannot be titrated directly with $ NaOH $ . The acid-base titration is aided by an auxiliary reagent that contributes to the release of protons in a specified stoichiometry.
Boric acid is a water-soluble acid. Mannitol is added to the sample to form a complex with boric acid, resulting in a medium-strong acid compound with a characteristic pH jump, which improves the quality of the titration by a strong base. This method can be used to determine boric acid concentrations in the range of $ 0.15 $ to $ 3.00{\text{ }}g/L $ .

Note:
It is important to remember that high amounts of boric acid can be dangerous if swallowed or inhaled. Furthermore, long-term exposure to boric acid can cause serious renal damage. Ingesting a large amount of boric acid can have serious consequences in numerous parts of the body.