Triethyl borate
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| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
Triethyl borate | |
| Other names
Boron triethoxide Boric acid, triethyl ester | |
| Identifiers | |
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| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.005.238 |
| EC Number | 205-760-9 |
| PubChem CID |
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| Properties | |
| C6H15BO3 | |
| Molar mass | 145.99 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | clear liquid |
| Density | 0.858 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | −85 °C (−121 °F; 188 K) |
| Boiling point | 118 °C (244 °F; 391 K) |
| Hazards | |
| Flash point | 11 °C (52 °F; 284 K) |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
 verify (what is  ?) | |
| Infobox references | |
Triethyl borate, also called boron triethoxide or boric acid, triethyl ester, is a colorless, flammable liquid with the formula B(C2H5O)3. It is an ester of boric acid and ethanol.
It melts at −85 °C and boils at 118 °C. It is flammable, with flash point at 11 °C.
It burns with a green flame and solutions of it in ethanol are therefore used in special effects and pyrotechnics.
It is formed by the reaction of boric acid and ethanol in the presence of acid catalyst, where it forms according to the equilibrium reaction:
- B(OH)3 + 3 C2H5OH ⇌ (C2H5O)3B + 3 H2O
In order to increase the rate of forward reaction, the formed water must be removed from reaction media by either azeotropic distillation or adsorption. It is used as a solvent and/or catalyst in preparation of synthetic waxes, resins, paints, and varnishes. It is used as a component of some flame retardants in textile industry and of some welding fluxes.