Lithium borate, also known as lithium tetraborate is an inorganic compound with the formula Li2B4O7. A colorless solid, lithium borate is used in making glasses and ceramics.

Lithium tetraborate
Names
Other names
Lithium borate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.031.364 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 234-514-3
UNII
  • InChI=1S/B4O7.2Li/c5-1-9-3(7)11-4(8)10-2-6;;/q-2;2*+1 checkY
    Key: PSHMSSXLYVAENJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/B4O7.2Li/c5-1-9-3(7)11-4(8)10-2-6;;/q-2;2*+1
    Key: PSHMSSXLYVAENJ-UHFFFAOYAA
  • [Li+].[Li+].O=BOB([O-])OB([O-])OB=O
Properties
Li2B4O7
Molar mass 169.11 g/mol
Appearance white powder
Density 2.4 g/cm3, solid
Melting point 917 °C (1,683 °F; 1,190 K)
moderately soluble
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
0
0
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure

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Its structure consists of a polymeric borate backbone. The Li+ centers are bound to four and five oxygen ligands. Boron centers are trigonal and tetrahedral.[1][2]

 
Borate backbone of Li2B4O7.

Lithium borate can be used in the laboratory as LB buffer for gel electrophoresis of DNA and RNA. It is also used in the borax fusion method to vitrify mineral powder specimens for analysis by WDXRF spectroscopy.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sennova, N.; Bubnova, R.; Shepelev, Yu.; Filatov, S.; Yakovleva, O. (2007). "Li2B4O7 Crystal structure in anharmonic approximation at 20, 200, 400 and 500 °C". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 428 (1–2): 290–296. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.03.049.
  2. ^ Natalia Sennova. R. S. Bubnova; G. Cordier; B. Albert; S. K. Filatov; L. Isaenko (2008). "Temperature-dependent Changes of the Crystal Structure of Li2B4O7". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 634 (14): 2601–2607. doi:10.1002/zaac.200800295.
  3. ^ Ron Jenkins, X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, Second Edition, J. Wiley & Sons Inc., 1999, ISBN 0-471-29942-1, p 146-7.