boraten

Boraten is not a standard term in widely used chemical nomenclature. In most contexts the name borate is used for salts and esters of boric acid. Some texts or transliterations may encounter boraten as a misspelling, a dialectal variant, or a nonstandard usage.

Chemically, borates are compounds that contain boron–oxygen units. They are derived from boric acid, H3BO3, and include orthoborates, metaborates, and polyborates. Common anions include [B(OH)4]− and [BO3]3−, and borate structures can form discrete ionic salts or extended networks in solids.

Occurrence and uses: Naturally occurring borates occur as minerals such as borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate), colemanite, ulexite, and tincal. Industrially, borates are produced from boron-rich ore or brines. They are used in glass and ceramics production, as fluxes and stabilizers, in laundry detergents, wood preservation, and as micronutrient supplements in agriculture and horticulture.

Safety and regulation: Borates generally exhibit low acute toxicity but can be harmful at high exposures. Some borate compounds are regulated in consumer products and food applications, and environmental releases are subject to local environmental protection rules.

See also: boric acid, borates, borax, polyborates, boron chemistry.