boric acid
1
4.4
- noun
- /ˈbɔrɪk ˈæsɪd/
- Specialized
:
ácido bórico
- The big problem isn't the boric acid—though it is an acid, and it can increase corrosion.
Examples
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Using diluted boric acid (harmless) and waiting a couple of days will allow the poisoned ants to go back down to the nest and spread the poison among their pals, killing them all.
Blog text (7) -
Did you bring home the boric acid for the baby?
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And it works with boric acid as well.
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Boric acid is not very useful for bed bugs.
Blog text (3) -
Boric acid was added sometime soon after.
Blog text (20) -
First, I rinse his eyes with boric acid.
Academic text (2007) -
It's extra confusing because I believe lower-grade boric acid is used to kill ants and roaches.
Blog text (19) -
The old-timey eye wash was made of boric acid (pharmaceutical grade) — not borax.
Blog text (19) -
As a result, clinicians have turned to topical agents, including neomycin, cortisone, and gentamicin—alone or in combination with acidic solutions such as boric acid.
Academic text (1998) -
You can use boric acid as an effective insecticide in your home.
Synonyms
1
7.7
A weak white chemical that kills germs and helps make glass and ceramics
A weak white chemical used to kill germs and in glass making and lab work
How Acidic
- Specialized
6
4.1
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
4.4
- Specialized
4
5.2
- Specialized
1
7.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is compositionally built from 'boric' (relating to boron) + 'acid' and thus denotes an acid associated with boron; the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. Although it is a technical chemical term, the morphological logic is predictable and used cross-linguistically in chemical nomenclature, so a learner who knows both parts will understand it.
Etymology
Boric acid comes from boric, a word linked to the substance 'boron' and the mineral 'borax' where it was first found. Because people used this mild acid for small medicines and to kill insects, boric acid now means the weak, gentle acid used as an antiseptic and insecticide.