Need double check on DIY boron math

jzw · Apr 6, 2021

By using 20 mule team borax, (which I've read to be 21.5% by weight) I want to reach to try to reach 26g/1000ml of ro-di. So my plan is to just add 121 grams of borax to a liter of water.

Seems simple but want to make sure that this make sense.

Thank you!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 8, 2021

yes, but you likely cannot dissolve that much.

Try a lower level.

pigmo · Apr 8, 2021

Any idea what the max saturation limit is for that product?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 9, 2021

Wikipedia says 31.7 g/L

BranchingHammer · Apr 9, 2021

Borax has a solubility of 37.1g/L, and 121g of Mule Team contains 26g of Borax. Borax has a solubility of 37.1g/L, so it seems that it would work. However, the other ingredients in the Mule Team (sucrose and Lactose, and others?) also have to dissolve into solution. While both have high solubilities, them being in solution will impact the solubility of the borax. It is not a common ion situation, and we don't know the percentages of the other ingredients, so I don't know how to calculate how much borax will dissolve. You could try it, but there will definitely be some precipitation. Like @Randy Holmes-Farley, I would suggest a lower mass of solute and higher temperature water.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 9, 2021

BranchingHammer said:
Borax has a solubility of 37.1g/L, and 121g of Mule Team contains 26g of Borax. Borax has a solubility of 37.1g/L, so it seems that it would work.

How do you figure that? 121 g of borax contains 121 g of borax.

It contains much less boron, but the solubility is not solubility of boron, but borax.

BranchingHammer · Apr 9, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How do you figure that? 121 g of borax contains 121 g of borax.

It contains much less boron, but the solubility is not solubility of boron, but borax.

Hi Randy,
I interpreted the OP's post to say that the Mule Team mixture contained 21.5% borax not boron. Maybe I misread it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 9, 2021

BranchingHammer said:
Hi Randy,
I interpreted the OP's post to say that the Mule Team mixture contained 21.5% borax not boron. Maybe I misread it?

It is mostly borax. The label itself lists no other ingredients.

BranchingHammer · Apr 9, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It is mostly borax. The label itself lists no other ingredients.

Hi Randy, thanks for clarifying. I just read up about it more. Dissolving less than 37.1g/L should work for the OP then. Sorry for confusing everyone.